The government of Belize has approved a one-time subsidy of one million dollars for the citrus industry, aimed at purchasing fertiliser for citrus orchards. This move is intended to bolster production and assist the industry, which is in the process of recovering from a particularly challenging period. The citrus sector has been facing various obstacles, including the impact of citrus greening, which significantly affected production towards the end of the last decade.
In a June interview with News Five, Hugh O'Brien, the Program Officer for Citrus Diversification at the Ministry of Agriculture, detailed the industry's struggles. "We were hit hard by citrus greening back in 2009 and 2010, which had a gradual but severe impact on production," O'Brien stated. He noted that the industry saw its lowest production in around fifty years last year, with slightly over 300,000 boxes of oranges and grapefruits processed. Despite these challenges, O'Brien highlighted signs of recovery, including the start of operations at the new Silk Grass Plant and increased local consumption, which together brought total production to approximately 400,000 boxes. Additionally, there's a growing demand for Belizean oranges in Guatemala, opening new markets for the industry.
Source: Channel5Belize