Ministry of Agriculture bringing Belize’s roots back to the table

By Zoila Palma: Sweet potatoes and cassava, once staples of Belizean diets and important sources of household food security, are receiving renewed attention as the country seeks to strengthen local food production.

 The Ministry of Agriculture says declining production and consumption of root and tuber crops, alongside changing dietary preferences and the growing popularity of fast and convenience foods, highlight the need to reconnect farmers and consumers with these nutritious and adaptable crops.

Approximately 28 farmers from communities across the Belize River Valley participated in a hands-on training in Bermudian Landing, facilitated by the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) with support from the Climate Resilient Agriculture Project (CRESAP).

The training focused on improving root and tuber production, crop management, value-added opportunities and climate-resilient farming practices.

The initiative is also aimed at strengthening farmers’ technical capacity and access to quality planting materials, with the goal of making root and tuber production a more productive and economically viable part of diversified farming systems.

CARDI continues to conduct applied research on improved varieties, production technologies and best management practices, while the Ministry of Agriculture’s research arm is carrying out varietal validation to identify crops suited to Belize’s local conditions.

The Ministry is encouraging farmers interested in producing sweet potatoes, cassava and other root and tuber crops to contact the Department of Agriculture for information on planting materials and technical support.

Beyond increasing production, the initiative seeks to bring traditional and nutritious crops back to Belizean tables.

The post Ministry of Agriculture bringing Belize’s roots back to the table appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.