Minister of Agriculture Jose Abelardo Mai Attends Key IICA Meeting in Costa Rica

Minister of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise, Jose Abelardo Mai, and his CEO are in Costa Rica attending the 44th Regular Meeting of the Executive Committee for the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA). Mai was nominated as Rapporteur for the Executive Meeting by the Minister of Agriculture of the Dominican Republic, marking a significant acknowledgment of his contributions to the agricultural sector. According to the government, Mai highlighted the challenges posed by climate change, detailing how erratic rainfall and increased temperatures are causing direct losses for farmers, affecting crop pollination, and increasing the prevalence of pests and diseases. The minister noted that of particular concern is the spread of New World ScrewWorms, which have moved from Panama to central Nicaragua, threatening Belize’s $90 million cattle trade with Mexico. He called for urgent intervention from IICA and the Regional International Organization for Plant Protection and Animal Health (ORISA) to address the threat. Additionally, Mai’s participation facilitated strategic collaborations and future incentives to bolster agricultural resilience.