BELMOPAN, Belize – Rodwell Ferguson, minister of agriculture, food security and new growth industries, and H.E. Lily Li-Wen Hsu, ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to Belize, signed the Implementation Arrangement for the “Belize Agricultural Product Processing Innovation and Incubation Project” on February 9, 2026.
The project spans four years and six months, with a budget of approximately US$4.15 million. The project is a forward-looking initiative aimed at strengthening agricultural value addition and supporting micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across the country.
Belize stands as the only country in Central America with a surplus of high-quality agricultural produce. According to the ministry of agriculture’s statistics, the agricultural output value of Belize grew by 17 percent between 2019 and 2023. In addition, agricultural products account for nearly 40 percent of Belize’s total export value.
Despite these strengths, local farmers have long struggled with limited processing technology and marketing expertise. This has resulted in significant waste and economic loss, as unsold fresh produce expires.
The project’s main goal is to establish an Agro-Processing Incubation Center at Central Farm, Cayo, which will introduce innovative technologies, provide entrepreneur training, and improve links between production and markets. By applying Taiwan’s advanced agro-processing technologies and an incubation model, this project also aims to strengthen agricultural value addition by training and mentoring 200 small-scale farmers to enter the agro-processing start-up sector and assist in the design and manufacture of processed goods to extend shelf life and command higher market prices. The project is expected to boost the income and economic stability of local farming communities in Belize.
Taiwan continues to be a longstanding development partner of Belize, extending technical cooperation and support across key sectors, including agriculture and economic development. It is expected that this project will advance entrepreneurship and lay a strong foundation for the modernisation of Belize’s agriculture sector.