Belize and Mexico Team Up to Fight Sugarcane-Killing Fusarium Fungus

A high-level Belizean delegation, comprised of cane farmers, technical experts, and senior officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise, along with other government representatives, yesterday traveled to the neighboring Mexican state of Quintana Roo. The visit aimed to address the escalating threat of Fusarium, a devastating fungus that has significantly impacted sugarcane fields in both Mexico and, more recently, Belize.  The delegation participated in a specialized presentation and field visit focused on the “Management and Control of Fusarium in Sugarcane.” The event was meticulously organized by the Production and Sugarcane Quality Committee of Ingenio San Rafael de Pucte, a prominent sugar cane factory located in Pucte, Quintana Roo, and coordinated in collaboration with the government of Quintana Roo State.  The primary objective of this cross-border initiative is to equip cane farmers in both Quintana Roo and Belize with effective strategies to combat the Fusarium fungus. This aggressive disease is projected to adversely affect sugarcane crops in both nations for the current and upcoming seasons, posing a significant challenge to the vital sugar industry.  Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise, Jose Abelardo Mai, led the Belizean delegation. He was accompanied by Chief Executive Officer Servulo Baeza and several other senior members of the Ministry’s staff.  During the visit, the delegation engaged with several Mexican experts who delivered a comprehensive presentation on Fusarium. Following the presentation, the group proceeded to sugarcane fields in the areas surrounding Pucte and the San Rafael sugar factory, located on the Mexican side of the Rio Hondo, to observe firsthand the impact of the disease and ongoing mitigation efforts.