Facing an existential crisis driven by escalating production costs, diminishing yields, and mounting climate pressures, Belize’s historic sugar sector is receiving a critical intervention. The Belize Sugar Industry (BSI) has unveiled AgGrowPro, a comprehensive support program designed to reverse the exodus of cane farmers through strategic operational modernization.
The initiative arrives as numerous family-owned farms stand abandoned, with many traditional growers transitioning to alternative sectors such as cattle ranching. BSI’s Country Manager, Mac McClachlan, expressed deep concern over the proliferation of substandard, low-yield cane fields that have become economically unviable for harvesting. “It’s very disappointing to see the number of cane fields that have just been abandoned,” McClachlan stated, characterizing the situation as a “real travesty” of wasted land and effort.
AgGrowPro offers a multi-faceted approach including advanced farm management techniques, technical assistance, and crucial mechanization support. The program provides financial flexibility with seven-year repayment terms, allowing farmers to benefit from immediate productivity gains. Additionally, BSI is exploring land lease arrangements with struggling growers as part of the comprehensive rescue package.
The program has received full endorsement from Prime Minister John Briceño, who praised the initiative as “a wonderful and great program” that addresses the industry’s fundamental transformation needs. Briceño emphasized the critical shift from manual harvesting to mechanized processes, requiring redesigned fields with proper drainage slopes and longer rows to accommodate modern equipment.
Industry leaders anticipate AgGrowPro will stabilize national sugar production levels while protecting agricultural livelihoods that have sustained Belize’s rural communities for generations. The success of this intervention could determine the long-term viability of one of Belize’s most historically significant agricultural sectors.