Posted: Monday, December 9, 2024. 5:43 pm CST.
Minister Jose Mai, right, with new Mexican Secretary of Agriculture, Dr. Jorge Berdegué Sacristán, left, in Palenque, Mexico – Photo Credit: Ministry of Agriculture
By Rubén Morales Iglesias: “Mexico is interested in importing from Belize every single head of cattle that is legally exported from Belize to Mexico and complies with the technical protocols to ensure the sanitized standards,” Mexico’s newly appointed Secretary of Agriculture, Dr. Julio Berdegué Sacristán, said during a meeting with Belize’s Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise, Hon. Jose Abelardo Mai. The meeting took place on Monday, December 8, 2024, in Palenque, in the state of Chiapas, Mexico, and focused on significant agriculture and trade issues of mutual interest.
“Everything that you can send us, we will receive it very gladly,” Dr. Berdegué Sacristán added.
Dr. Berdegué also noted that Mexico is interested in reducing the cost and technical barriers to the formal trade of cattle in an attempt to increase the import of cattle from Belize.
In 2024, Belize exported 5,848 head of cattle to Mexico with a value of approximately $9.4 million, highlighting the potential for increased trade. However, Mexico’s stringent export protocols and Belize’s business tax, along with lower restrictions to cattle exports to Guatemala, are threatening to put a stop to cattle exports to Mexico. While cattle farmers are making profits, the exporting company, Green Hills Ranch, is barely breaking even, and that due to a Belize Livestock Producers Association subsidy. In 2024 alone, Belize exported over 32,000 head of livestock to Guatemala, at a value of just under $53 million. That’s nearly six times as much exported to Guatemala as compared to Mexico.
In his meeting with his Mexican counterpart, Minister Mai highlighted Belize’s success in keeping the New World Screwworm out of the country, thanks to an excellent traceability system for cattle, as well as additional measures such as intense education and public awareness, on-farm surveillance, inspection certificates, and 24-hour quarantine at informal border points. The Ministry of Agriculture is currently seeking an additional $1 million supplementary budget for the effective implementation of its New World Screwworm (NWS) Prevention and Response Program.
The new Mexican Agriculture Secretary commended Belize’s efforts and agreed to continue close cooperation to control the spread of the New World Screwworm.
Additionally, Minister Mai emphasized the need to facilitate the movement of agricultural products from Belize to Mexico, noting that Belize currently exports only $8-$10 million worth of goods to Mexico, while importing over $300 million from Mexico.
During the discussions, Mexico also agreed to respond to Belize’s request to export green coconuts with husks and to expedite the risk assessment process required for this trade. Belize expects to export up to 5 million green coconuts per year, primarily to Quintana Roo, Mexico, in the coming years.
The Ministry of Agriculture said Minister Mai’s visit to Mexico has yielded significant progress in agricultural cooperation, promising enhanced trade opportunities and mutual benefits for both countries. Stay tuned for further updates on these developments.
Accompanying Minister Mai to Mexico were his Chief Advisor Hugh O’Brien, Belize’s Trade Ambassador to Mexico Jaime Briceño, and Abram Garcia from Belize’s coconut private sector.
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The post ‘Mexico is interested in importing from Belize every single head of cattle that is legally exported’ – New Mexican Secretary of Agriculture, Dr. Jorge Berdegué Sacristán appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
Posted: Monday, December 9, 2024. 5:43 pm CST. Minister Jose Mai, right, with new Mexican Secretary of Agriculture, Dr. Jorge Berdegué Sacristán, left, in Palenque, Mexico
The post ‘Mexico is interested in importing from Belize every single head of cattle that is legally exported’ – New Mexican Secretary of Agriculture, Dr. Jorge Berdegué Sacristán appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.