Minister Mai says vegetable production is up; prices are high for fresh produce

In our discussion with the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Jose Mai, we also asked him about the high cost of fresh produce. According to the Statistical Institute of Belize’s latest consumer price index report, fresh vegetables were up by 16.5 percent when compared to February last year. The SIB noted that there have been notable increases across the various groups of food items, such as rice, flour, bread, and fresh produce. However, while the prices are high, Minister Mai says vegetable production has increased under his watch.

Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise: “The statistics I presented on the budget debate shows that there are major increases in agriculture products and I think potatoes were down this year, was one I could remember. Citrus is down but that we have major I don’t know you need to go back to the stats.”