By Breaking Belize News Staff: Prime Minister John Briceño says Belize’s sugar industry is facing one of its most serious recent challenges, with sugar production nearly halved compared with three years ago because of Fusarium disease and a growing mealybug infestation.
Briceño said Government has allocated $5 million to combat the mealybug and another $3 million toward disease eradication. He also highlighted a $50 million Green Climate Fund grant aimed at helping northern cane farmers with replanting, irrigation, drainage, soil improvement and integrated pest management.
Recent reports indicate Cabinet actually approved approximately $5.2 million for the mealybug intervention as the industry grapples with declining cane production and millions of dollars in losses.
The climate programme, known as BaC-SuF, is backed by a US$25 million Green Climate Fund grant — approximately BZ$50 million — as part of a larger US$38.8 million project. It is expected to directly benefit more than 5,000 cane farmers and indirectly impact about 87,000 Belizeans.
The post Sugar production nearly cut in half as Government pumps millions into pest and disease fight appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: Prime Minister John Briceño says Belize’s sugar industry is facing one of its most serious recent challenges, with sugar production nearly halved compared with three years ago because of Fusarium disease and a growing mealybug infestation. Briceño said Government has allocated $5 million to combat the mealybug and another $3
The post Sugar production nearly cut in half as Government pumps millions into pest and disease fight appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.