The government of Belize will be pumping $15 million into the nation’s citrus industry, getting expertise to lead the revival, Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise Jose Abelardo Mai has stated.
The government allocated $15 million over the next three years in loan financing through the Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and gave the go-ahead for the diversification of the citrus industry into processing of more non-traditional fruits. Cabinet also mandated the modernization of the Citrus Act to facilitate the growth and expansion of the industry.
Minister Mai noted that the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise (MAFSE) has also been looking for the best persons to lead the industry’s revival. MAFSE assigned agronomist Fay Garnett, who has been District Agriculture Coordinator, to lead the diversification efforts into non-traditional fruits, and more recently, both Prime Minister John Briceño and himself asked Hugh O’Brien to join the Ministry to lead the revival of the industry.
Source: breakingbelizenews.com