Farmers in San Carlos Village, Orange Walk, Belize, are facing challenges in selling their carrot harvests due to an oversaturated local market and competition from imported goods. German Tillett, UDP standard bearer for Orange Walk South, highlighted the plight of the farmers, noting that their produce is left unsold and rotting. Despite efforts to sell the carrots locally, the presence of imported Mexican carrots is undercutting prices, exacerbating the situation for local growers.
The government's intervention, involving a mediator to facilitate sales, has not yielded positive results, with no buyers stepping forward to purchase the surplus. Tillett emphasized that the current import policy is detrimental to the welfare of local farmers, who are struggling to compete against the influx of foreign carrots. He advocates for a reevaluation of import policies to better support the domestic agricultural sector. The issue affects approximately 8 to 10 farmers in the region, leading to financial losses and wasted produce.
Source: Channel 5 Belize