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Belize Honey Production Re- Development Support Project（https://www.agriculture.gov.bz/belize-honey-production-re-development-support-project/）
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HOME（https://www.agriculture.gov.bz/）
ABOUT US（https://www.agriculture.gov.bz/about-us/）
DEPARTMENTS/UNITS（https://www.agriculture.gov.bz/departmentsunits/）
Agriculture（https://www.agriculture.gov.bz/agriculture/）
Cooperatives（https://www.agriculture.gov.bz/cooperative/）
CRESAP（https://www.agriculture.gov.bz/climate-resilient-agriculture-project-cresap/）
PARTNERS IN DEVELOPMENT
Statutory Bodies（https://www.agriculture.gov.bz/statutory-bodies/）
International Partners（https://www.agriculture.gov.bz/international-partners/）
CDF PROJECTS
Belize Covered Structure and Capacity Enhancement Project（https://www.agriculture.gov.bz/belize-covered-structure-and-capacity-enhancement-project/）
Belize Honey Production Re- Development Support Project（https://www.agriculture.gov.bz/belize-honey-production-re-development-support-project/）
DOCUMENT CENTER（https://www.agriculture.gov.bz/document-center/）
Belize Honey Production Re-Development Support Proj ect
Support to Small Disadvantaged Farmers
Funded by the CARICOM Development Fund (CDF)
Implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise
Grant Agreement – Component 4 of Belize 2 nd Cycle Country Assistance Programme
GRANT No. BZE/G0008
THE PROJECT
A grant agreement, Component 3 of Belize 2 nd Cycle Country Assistance Program, was signed on 21 st November 2018 between the Government of Belize and the CARICOM Develop Fund (CDF). The project is geared towards the provision of capacity building to new and existing beekeepers in Good Beekeeping Practices and other related topics.
OBJECTIVE
The overall objective of the Project is for the expansion of the honey production subsector in Belize, targeting the delivery of new and additional capabilities to women and disadvantage youth to reap the advantages of employment and empowerment through sector specific knowledge acquisition.
The specific objectives are to:
Increase rural livelihood opportunities through beekeeping in farming communities especially among women and youth.
Increase national production and productivity of beekeeping.
Increase the quality of honey and honey products through the promotion of standards and good manufacturing practices.
EXECUTING AGENCY – The Ministry Agriculture, Food Security & Enterprise
RATIONALE
Belize has a rich history of beekeeping and honey production. The Mayans were the country’s first beekeepers producing honey from stingless bees, utilising very traditional methods of culturing the insects (primarily hollowed out tree trunks). Honey was a significant dietary supplement for the Mayans and stingless bees remained the main honey-makers until the mid-1900’s when new species were introduced and commercial production of the commodity was initiated.
The invasive Africanized species of bees are themselves heavy makers of honey, but their very aggressive nature render them difficult to manage. The Ministry of Agriculture advised that many beekeepers left the industry because there was a dearth of technical knowledge and capacity to manage the new challenge which Africanised bees presented to honey producers in Belize.
Over time, with technical assistance from external sources, the Ministry of Agriculture was able to enhance its own capacity and then transfer the requisite knowledge to bee-keepers across the country.