$5.2 Million Plan Approved to Protect Belize's Sugar Industry

$5.2 Million Plan Approved to Protect Belize's Sugar Industry The Government of Belize (GOB) has approved a $5.2 million emergency programme to tackle the growing mealybug infestation affecting sugarcane production and cane farmers in northern Belize. GOB will provide $2.56 million as a grant, while cane farmers will finance the remaining $2.56 million through agreed-upon deductions from cane deliveries over four crop cycles. The programme, coordinated by the Sugar Industry Research and Development Institute (SIRDI), in collaboration with the four cane producer associations and Belize Sugar Industries/ASR Group, will target a total of 100,000 acres of sugarcane. The treatment will be carried out in two applications, covering 50,000 acres each, to control the spread of the pest, reduce production losses and protect the sugar industry. The targeted fields include those currently under cultivation, as well as fields scheduled for harvesting and replanting. All planned applications are expected to be completed within the next two months. The intervention comes as the sugar industry continues to face challenges from declining production, pests and disease, labour shortages and rising costs. GOB says the emergency programme is aimed at reducing the current infestation, protecting sugarcane productivity and supporting the long-term sustainability of the northern sugarcane industry.