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Minister of Agriculture, Jose Mai, attended the 44th meeting of the executive committee for the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture in San Jose, Costa Rica. He was nominated as rapporteur by the Minister of Agriculture of the Dominican Republic, which is a recognition of his contributions to the sector.
According to a press release, during the meeting, Mai underscored the severe impacts of migration on Belize's agriculture sector, highlighting how the loss of workers has led to substantial losses in the production of citrus, bananas, and sugarcane. He also spoke about how the mass migration has escalated labor costs, further straining the sector. He discussed the effects of climate change and the direct losses that the farmers face due to erratic rainfall and increased temperatures.
During the discussion, Mai also expressed sympathy for Caribbean member states devastated by Hurricane Beryl.
The Minister also supported IICA's proposal for the Hemispheric Fund for Agriculture Resilience and Sustainability in the Americas, which aims to support member states in building resilience and recovering from natural disasters, ensuring sustainable agricultural practices across the region.
