In a targeted effort to protect Belize’s critical coconut industry, more than 60 small-scale producers from the Belize and Orange Walk Districts have completed hands-on training focused on identifying and mitigating destructive pests and diseases that threaten coconut yields. The successful pilot workshops, held in September 2026, have paved the way for a national expansion of the program, with sessions scheduled to reach coconut farmers across all remaining districts of the country.
Organized by Belize’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and New Growth Industries, each two-day workshop welcomed more than 30 participants, intentionally including women producers and young emerging farmers to ensure inclusive capacity building across the sector. The training was led by a senior coconut pest and disease specialist from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), with technical and logistical support provided by the ministry’s Fruit Tree Program, Research Unit, and Extension Unit.
Unlike traditional classroom-only training, the program combined theoretical lectures on pest lifecycle identification and disease symptom recognition with immersive on-site field exercises. This blended approach allowed farmers to practice spotting threats directly on living coconut plants, giving them practical, actionable skills they can apply immediately on their own farms.
The national training initiative forms part of FAO’s global “One Country One Priority Product” program, an agenda designed to strengthen sustainable, inclusive value chains for high-potential agricultural commodities selected by each participating nation. For Belize, coconut was chosen as the priority product due to its deep cultural roots, significant economic contribution to rural livelihoods, and growing export potential.
Following the positive outcomes of the pilot workshops in the two northern districts, the Ministry of Agriculture is now finalizing logistics and scheduling for the remaining districts. Coconut producers across Belize who are interested in participating in the upcoming training sessions can register for a spot through their local district agriculture office.