POLICIES TO SUPPORT SCP IN AGRICULTURE SECTOR CASE OF BELIZE THERE ARE NO POLICIES SPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR THE 10YFP BUT THERE ARE INCIDENTAL ACTIVITIES…
• THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE IS THE ONLY MINISTRY IN THE PRESENT GOVERNMENT, THAT HAS ADOPTED A PROACTIVE, AND PRACTICAL APROACH THAT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THE CONCEPT OF SCP IN ITS PURSUIT OF SUSTAINABLE FOOD, NUTRITION, HEALTH AND ECONOMIC SECURITY
• … “my Ministry has undertaken a multipronged approach to food security, rescuing the concept of diversified integrated farming systems and the adaptation of technologies that will enhance the transformation of the agriculture sector from labor intensive and underproductive to a more productive sector. The technologies and good practices being promoted are all in consonance with sustainable consumption and production for a cleaner and healthier agriculture sector
”…(quote from
Minister of Agriculture's speech in Rome, 2009)
• IT IS WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THAT MINISTERIAL DECLARATION IN ROME THAT THE MINISTRY IS IMPLEMENTING A SYSTEMATIC APROACH TO A MORE ECONOMIC, SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE, FRIENDLY TO THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN HEALTH.
• …ACTION PLAN 2008-2012…TO DEVELOP COUNTRYWIDE, SIXTY MODULES OF INTEGRATED FARMING SYSTEMS; EACH RELATIVELY SELFSUPPORTING, SUSTAINABLE SYSTEM. • A KEY COMPONENT OF VARIOUS MODULES ARE THE BIO GAS DIGESTORS IN FARMS THAT PRODUCE PORK. • THE DIGESTORS PRODUCE ENOUGH BIO-GAS TO SUPPLY THE FARM FAMILY WITH NECESSARY ENERGY FOR COOKING AND FOR LIGHT
JATROFA PROJECT • IN BELIZE THERE ARE 2 SMALL INVESTORS THAT HAVE PILOT PROJECTS IN JATROFA FOR BIOFUEL. …NOT CONVINCING LOCALS, BECAUSE IT IS A STAND- ALONE PRODUCT THAT WILL COMPETE WITH SCARCE RESOURCES MORE ECONOMICAL IN FOOD PRODUCTION.
GASOH0L • …THE SUGAR INDUSTRY HAS FOUND ITSELF IN CRISIS IN THE PAST YEAR. … PRODUCERS START C0NSIDERING POTENTIAL ALTERNATIVES FOR DIVERSIFYING SUGAR INDUSTRY… … GASOHOL IS AN OPTION BEING LOOKED AT… BUT ONLY INFORMALLY.
PALM OILS • VARIOUS OILS KNOWN TO HAVE GOOD COMBUSTION BECAUSE OF THEIR LONG CARBON CHAIN. • COHUNE OIL, COCONUT OIL, AFRICAN PALM OIL • … COCONUT AND COHUNE OILS ARE COOKING OILS, • AFRICAN OIL PALM … DISCARDED AS A CROP THAT WOULD REQUIRE MUCH FINANCIAL INVESTMENT AND EXTENSIVE ACREAGES OF NEW DEFORESTATION.
GARBAGE GAS GENERATION • …THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND MINISTRY OF HEALTH MUST SOONER THAN LATER COME TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT THE GASES FROM SLAUGHTER HOUSES AND GARBAGE DUMPS ARE TRAPPED TO AVOID ENVIRONMENTAL POLUTION AND ODOR NUISANCE. ESPECIALLY AS POPULATION PRESSURE WILL SURELY OBLIGE GOVERNMENT TO DO SO.
MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE`S PRESENTATION IN ROME (2009)… • …With the assistance from various
friendly nations and international donors we are promoting and implementing some programs and projects designed to make positive changes in our manifest situation. Some of these are:
1. Environmentally Friendly Agriculture • • • • • • • • • •
Organic agriculture Minimum use of chemical pesticides Integrated pest management Use of renewable energy in agriculture production and processing Agro processing using renewable clean energy sources (solar, hydro, wind…) Appropriate relevant technology (small machinery for minimum CO2 emission) Use and recycling of organic by products / solid waste (composting, biogas, etc.) Production of seeds of time-tested varieties and the rescue of indigenous varieties known for their hardiness and resistance to critical environments Design and installation of a seed Bank Green house technology for minimizing use of pesticides
CONCLUSIONS • IF THE BIO FUEL PRODUCTION IS NOT A COMPONENT OF THE INTERGRATED SYSTEMS APROACH IN AGRICULTURE, IT WILL NOT GAIN MOMENTUM IN THIS TERM OF THE MAF STRATEGIC PLAN. • BELIZE HAS PETROLEUM AND IT WILL TAKE A LOT OF CONVINCING ARGUMENTS TO CHANGE PREFERENCE
CONCLUSIONS cont… • IN BELIZE THE MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT DOES NOT HAVE A POLICY AND MUCH LESS ACTION PLAN IN LINE WITH THE OBJECTIVES OF THE 10YFP ALTHOUGH IT IS THE FOCAL POINT FOR THE PROCESS…WORK NEEDS BE DONE HERE.
RECOMMENDATION • THEREFORE; IT IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED THAT THE TEAM OF EXPERTS CONDUCT A 2-DAY NATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON THE MARRAKECH PROCESS IN EVERY COUNTRY THAT HAS BEEN INSENSITIVE TO 10YFP, TO SENSITIZE THE POLITICAL BODY, SENIOR DECISION MAKERS AND THE MEDIA ON THE CONCEPT OF SCP AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR THE FUTURE OF HUMANITY.
Glimpse of recycling, CLEAN technology in Belize
ALL FOR THE ACCELERATION OF THE PROCESS OF SCP • REDUCING PESTICIDE USE • REDUCING HEALTH HAZZARDS BY PESTICIDE RESIDUE • REDUCING HAZARDS TO BIODIVERSITY • RECYCLYING TECHNOLOGY IN AGRICULTURE MAKING GOOD USE OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLUTANTS (garbage) • DEVELOPING AN INFORMED CULTURE OF SCP
CONT… • REDUCING IMPACT OF CHEMICALS, PLASTICS AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL POLUTIANTS • ACHIEVING A EARTH-FRIENDLY CLEAN, GREEN AND HEALTHY AGRICULTURE FOR FOOD, NUTRITION AND ENVIRONMENTAL SECURITY. •
THAN YOU VERY MUCH