By Zoila Palma: The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and New Growth Industries held a two-day technical training workshop on coconut production at San Miguel Farms in Esperanza Village, Cayo District, on October 21 and 22, 2026.
The workshop was conducted under the One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) initiative in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the ministry’s Research Unit, Extension Service and National Fruit Tree Program team.
More than 40 participants, including farmers, technical officers and agricultural stakeholders from Silk Grass Farms and Citrus Products of Belize Limited (CPBL), took part in the training. The sessions focused on identifying, preventing and managing major pests and diseases threatening Belize’s coconut industry.
Facilitators covered pests such as the Coconut Weevil, Rhinoceros Beetle, Red Palm Mite and Coconut Mite, along with diseases including Red Ring Disease and Bud Rot. Participants learned about their symptoms, biological characteristics, economic impacts and management options, with emphasis on early detection and regular field monitoring. A practical exercise at San Miguel Farms also allowed participants to gain hands-on experience in assessing and diagnosing South American Palm Weevil infestations and Red Ring Disease.
The workshop promoted Integrated Pest Management strategies to support more sustainable coconut production while strengthening collaboration among farmers, technical officers and other industry stakeholders.
The ministry said the knowledge and recommendations shared are expected to improve pest and disease management and contribute to the sustainable development of Belize’s coconut sector.
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By Zoila Palma: The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and New Growth Industries held a two-day technical training workshop on coconut production at San Miguel Farms in Esperanza Village, Cayo District, on October 21 and 22, 2026. The workshop was conducted under the One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) initiative in collaboration with the Food
The post Ministry of Agriculture hosts training for farmers in Cayo to combat coconut pests and diseases appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
