Government Suspends Vegetable Imports to Support Local Farmers

The issuance of import permits for several vegetables has been suspended. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise (MAFSE) had suspended the importation of lettuce, purple, white, and yellow onions, potatoes, cabbage carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, and celery. The suspension follows a process that began in January after the ministry met with local farmers to hear their concerns. After collecting data, the Ministry determined that Belizean farmers have enough produce to supply the local demand. Andrew Mejia, Director of Extensions for the Ministry, says that the suspension will remain in place for the next few months as a means of supporting Belizean farmers. 

Andrew Mejia, Director of Extensions, MAFSE: “In January the Ministry of Agriculture held meetings across the country with our vegetable producers. And these meetings were important to determine the quantity of produce that we have on the local market. Now, these meetings are important because, also important because, it determines when we close the border for importation. So, the results of those meetings indicated that we have enough supply of certain produce, onions, potatoes, carrots, just to name a few that the farmers are producing in order to supply the local market. So we, at the ministry level, we have the data to make decisions, some decisions that can benefit our local farmers.”

Mejia added that the issue of contraband produce is one that the Ministry has been working to crack down on.

Andrew Mejia, Director of Extensions, MAFSE: “The challenges continues to exist. It’s an ongoing challenge even for us here at the ministry to try to get some of these challenges under control. For example, climate change we have very little control over climate change. Farmers continue to face them on a daily basis. But nevertheless, farmers continue to produce and they continue to produce quality crops that can provide food security for our nation. So it’s our responsibility to ensure that these farmers get the opportunity to sell their produce and provide a livelihood for themselves and their families. The challenges won’t go away. We have implemented several strategies that we’re using currently to try our best to ensure that farmers are able to produce produce efficiently and at the same time being able to market their product of issues such as contraband. As you rightly see in the release the ministry is adamant about trying to control that part of our challenge. It’s a challenge that we believe has its peak, as we rightly believe at this moment is one of the peaks of contraband in the country. So the release went out to try and allow the farmers just a small window, they’re only asking for a few months to be able to sell their produce until we start to import again.”

The Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) has warned that anyone caught with these imported vegetables will be prosecuted under the BAHA Act, Chapter 211 of the laws of Belize. Violators can face hefty fines, imprisonment or both.