(Day 1 – 13th August 2026)

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise hosted its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on the 13^th – 14^th of August 2026 at the Russell “Chiste” Auditorium in Dangriga Town, Stann Creek District, bringing together technical officers, leadership, and industry stakeholders to review performance for fiscal year 2025/26, and set strategic priorities for the current fiscal year 2026/27.

Key Proceedings & Highlights

• Economic Impact: Minister of Agriculture Rodwell Ferguson opened the AGM by highlighting that the agricultural sector contributes approximately 15% to Belize’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). He emphasized the Ministry’s vision to boost production, encourage investment, and expand export market access to further increase the sector’s contribution.
• Strategic Priorities:
  1. Enhancing national food security and boosting agricultural productivity.
  2. Strengthening support systems for small and medium farmers.
  3. Building greater resilience against climate-related losses.

• Resource Allocation & Subsidies: The discussions acknowledged the growing financial pressure on government resources due to rising production costs for farmers and severe climate-change events, emphasizing the need to balance subsidy requests with budget constraints while building sustainable systems.
• Performance Overview: Chief Executive Officer Servulo Baeza presented a detailed review of the agricultural sector’s performance, evaluating ongoing programs and key production areas.

(Day 2 – 14th August 2026)