KUDOS TO BELIZE UDP GOVERNMENT AND TAIWAN FOR INNOVATIVE MOVE.

GOVERNMENT AND TAIWAN WORK TOGETHER, TO HOPEFULLY START DIVERSIFYING THE SUGAR CANE FARMERS IN THE NORTH INTO OTHER CROPS

The Taiwan Mission in Belize is providing technical guidance along with the Ministry of Agriculture in papaya planting, to increase productivity and ensure sustainability of the Northern farmers. Since the quality of sugar cane is in question, the hope is that the farmers can be taught to grow export quality papaya. This industry already exists in Belize and can be expanded immediately. Papaya take 9 months to produce.
The Taiwanese ICDF Taiwan small farmer loan program is going to funnel $320,000 usa through the La Inmaculada Credit Union Ltd., to provide the loans for small farmers to convert to papaya growing for export. Interest rate will be 10%. The loan period will be 28 months.
We wish them success and this is a move in the right direction by the UDP government, before we see the cane industry fail. The Boy Scouts motto of "BE PREPARED" is right on with this move, as only one or two years seperates the sugar cane business from success, or failure.