By Zoila Palma: Today, the Ministry of Agriculture is hosting a field day on wheat in Central Farm, Cayo.
Minister of Agriculture Rodwell Ferguson, Minister of State in the Ministry Alex Balona and former Minister of Agriculture Jose Mai along with Senior Advisor to the Ministry Hugh O’Brien will participate in the activities today.
For the first time, Belize is moving to strengthen its local grain sector through a renewed push for wheat production, following years of small-scale cultivation by Mennonite farmers and rising national import costs.
The Mennonite community in lower Barton Creek, Cayo has been producing wheat for more than a decade.
Farmers in Springfield are also preparing to begin cultivation.
While production has remained small and primarily for household consumption, growers have persisted despite plant diseases and limited access to adequate processing machinery.
Field visits conducted by the Agronomy Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and New Growth Industries confirmed that wheat cultivation is concentrated in Springfield and Lower Barton Creek in Cayo, as well as in Indian Creek, Orange Walk District.
Although wheat has not traditionally been classified as a priority crop for national food security, many farmers view it as a practical way to cut household food expenses and maintain self-sufficiency.
The Ministry’s renewed interest in wheat cultivation comes amid a sharp rise in imports.
In 2023, Belize imported approximately US $1.46 million worth of wheat, including nearly 2.9 million kilograms of wheat flour valued at US $1.218 million.
By 2024, imports of raw wheat and meslin from the United States surged to about 17,500 metric tons between January and September, valued at US $7.81 million.
Between 2020 and 2024, Belize imported an estimated 45 to 50 million pounds of wheat and an additional 7 to 8 million pounds of wheat flour annually, spending just under BZ $30 million each year.
Due to this, the Agronomy Department launched the country’s first wheat demonstration plot on December 30, 2024, at the Research, Development, and Innovation Center in Central Farm.
Using local seed obtained from Lower Barton Creek, the plot was harvested in mid-April 2025.
Results confirmed that Belize has the agroclimatic potential to produce high-quality wheat, though expansion will require improved access to adapted varieties, better post-harvest infrastructure, and formal recognition of wheat as a strategic food security crop.
And, in collaboration with the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) and international partners, 2 research trials were introduced including the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) in Mexico and Brazil’s agricultural research agency, EMBRAPA.
Following those trials, preliminary findings suggest that wheat can be successfully grown under Belizean conditions.
The Government of Belize has signaled its commitment to continued variety trials, regional collaboration, and investment in modern agricultural technologies and farmer training to lay the foundation for sustainable, long-term wheat production.
The post Ministry of Agriculture hosts Wheat field day in Central Farm, Cayo appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Zoila Palma: Today, the Ministry of Agriculture is hosting a field day on wheat in Central Farm, Cayo. Minister of Agriculture Rodwell Ferguson, Minister of State in the Ministry Alex Balona and former Minister of Agriculture Jose Mai along with Senior Advisor to the Ministry Hugh O’Brien will participate in the activities today. For
The post Ministry of Agriculture hosts Wheat field day in Central Farm, Cayo appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
