By Zoila Palma: Belize and Taiwanese officials undertook a two-day mission to the northern sugar belt on November 19–20 to address the growing threat of sugarcane wilt (Fusarium spp.) affecting farms across Orange Walk and Corozal.
Led by Dr. Osmond Martinez, Minister of State in the Ministry of Economic Transformation, and CEO Carlos Pol, the delegation included representatives from the Sugar Industry Research and Development Institute (SIRDI), the Taiwan Technical Mission headed by Chief Hsien-Tsang Su, IICA Belize, and the University of Belize.
During the visit, the team met with sugarcane farmers, surveyed affected fields, and examined cultivation practices, equipment use, and overall field conditions. Specialists from SIRDI, the Sugar Industry Control Board, IICA, the University of Belize, and the Taiwan Technical Mission collaborated in evaluating the scale of the wilt and the factors fueling its spread.
The assessment identified four leading contributors to the disease’s severity: climate-related stress, depleted soil nutrients, insufficient field management, and the use of unclean planting material without tissue culture propagation.
Taiwanese experts recommended immediate adoption of tissue culture methods, seed cane disinfection, improved soil and root protection, and increased use of biological controls. They also unveiled a Satellite Image Monitoring and Warning System designed to detect Fusarium outbreaks early and support rapid response.
Researchers from the University of Belize highlighted ongoing studies into beneficial soil microbes that could naturally suppress sugarcane wilt, further supporting sustainable solutions.
The post Ministry of Economic Transformation and Taiwan Technical Mission drive field assessments in the North appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Zoila Palma: Belize and Taiwanese officials undertook a two-day mission to the northern sugar belt on November 19–20 to address the growing threat of sugarcane wilt (Fusarium spp.) affecting farms across Orange Walk and Corozal. Led by Dr. Osmond Martinez, Minister of State in the Ministry of Economic Transformation, and CEO Carlos Pol, the delegation
The post Ministry of Economic Transformation and Taiwan Technical Mission drive field assessments in the North appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
