Belize’s agricultural landscape is undergoing a significant transformation as its cattle industry demonstrates remarkable growth potential to overtake sugar as the nation’s primary export revenue source. According to Belarmino Esquivel, Principal Agriculture Officer and head of the livestock program at the Ministry of Agriculture, this shift reflects both the vulnerabilities of traditional crops and the emerging strength of livestock farming.
Esquivel emphasized that Belize can no longer depend exclusively on its three traditional foreign exchange earners—citrus, bananas, and sugar—which face persistent threats from climate change, disease outbreaks, and declining productivity. The cattle sector has emerged as a resilient alternative, with Esquivel projecting it could surpass sugar in foreign exchange earnings as early as 2026.
Statistical evidence reveals extraordinary expansion in Belize’s national cattle herd over the past decade. From approximately 77,000 head in 2014, the inventory has surged to 215,000 animals by 2015, maintaining a consistent upward trajectory. This growth is primarily fueled by robust demand from neighboring markets, particularly Guatemala and Mexico.
In 2024 alone, Belize exported over 35,000 cattle to Guatemala, generating between BZ$50-60 million, with an additional 6,000 heads shipped to Mexican markets. Unlike other export commodities dominated by large agricultural estates, the cattle industry remains predominantly operated by small-scale farmers, with 70% maintaining herds between one and fifty animals.
Esquivel highlighted improved access to affordable financing through programs such as CRESAP, Sembrando Vida, and SAIB, which offer favorable loan terms and matching grants. The 60/40 matching grant system specifically enables farmers to pursue climate-smart investments with reduced initial capital requirements. With domestic consumption steady at approximately 10,000 cattle annually and exports continuing their upward trend, livestock farming appears positioned to become Belize’s foremost agricultural income generator.