Posted: Friday, May 30, 2025. 7:20 pm CST.
Agriculture Minister Jose Abelardo Mai opened the 2025 National Agriculture and Trade Show, with (L-R) Gregorio Esquivel, 2025 Farmer of the Year: Noemi Requena, Woman Farmer of the Year; and Juan Ricardo Carrillo, Junior Farmer of the Year. Photo Credit:
By Rubén Morales Iglesias: In an impassioned address during the opening of the National Agriculture and Trade Show, Minister Jose Abelardo Mai called for a united effort to overcome the persistent challenges facing Belize’s agriculture sector. Speaking to an audience that included not only government dignitaries and business leaders but also farmers and innovators, the Minister stressed that while agriculture must contend with high input costs, natural disasters, market instabilities, and even the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the sector remains the backbone of Belize’s economy and community life.
Minister Mai recognized the innovations emerging on every front—from sustainable farming practices that enrich the soil and water-saving technologies to climate-resilient crops and improved livestock breeds. He lauded recent support initiatives, including the Farmer of the Year competition and the school garden competition, for shining a spotlight on local ingenuity and tradition meeting modern science.
During his address, Minister Mai specifically acknowledged outstanding achievers in these competitions. He congratulated Gregorio Esquivel, the 2025 Farmer of the Year from Consejo Village in the Corozal District; recognized Noemi Requena as the Woman Farmer of the Year from San Pedro Columbia Village in the Toledo District—now proudly residing in Punta Gorda Town; and honored Juan Ricardo Carrillo as the Junior Farmer of the Year from San Lazaro in the Orange Walk District. Their remarkable achievements exemplify the resilience and innovation essential for ensuring Belize’s food security and agricultural progress.
“Food is not partisan… it’s not PUP nor UDP. It should not be kicked around like a rotten pumpkin. There are countless examples of our government showing that we value Belizean farming,” he declared, urging government, private sector actors, researchers, and civil society alike to collaborate.
His tribute to Belizean farmers—calling them the stewards of the land—reinforced his belief that through cooperative effort and innovative policy, Belize can build food systems that not only feed the nation today but also ensure a sustainable tomorrow. “I am proud to be the Minister of Agriculture… but am even more proud of our Belizean Farmers and their families… they have converted Belize into the shining star of the region,” Mai said.
“I salute every single farmer in this country and I thank you from the bottom of my heart… we all thank and honor you! Enjoy the National Agriculture and Trade Show, and let us continue to plant seeds of progress and hope,” Minister Mai concluded.
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The post Minister Mai urges united front to secure food systems and empower farmers, in remarks at 2025 Agric Show opening appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
Posted: Friday, May 30, 2025. 7:20 pm CST. Agriculture Minister Jose Abelardo Mai opened the 2025 National Agriculture and Trade Show, with (L-R) Gregorio Esquivel, 2025
The post Minister Mai urges united front to secure food systems and empower farmers, in remarks at 2025 Agric Show opening appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
