In a significant move to strengthen agricultural resilience and economic growth, Belize has entered into a substantial development partnership with Taiwan. On February 9, 2026, a formal agreement was signed, allocating US $4.15 million to establish the “Belize Agricultural Product Processing Innovation and Incubation Project.”
The signing ceremony featured Belize’s Agriculture Minister, Rodwell Ferguson, and Taiwan’s Ambassador, Lily Li-Wen Hsu. This collaborative initiative, spanning four and a half years, will establish a state-of-the-art Agro-Processing Incubation Centre at Central Farm in the Cayo District. The center’s core mission is to revolutionize post-harvest practices by introducing cutting-edge processing technologies, providing comprehensive entrepreneurial training, and forging robust market linkages for local producers.
This strategic investment addresses a critical vulnerability in Belize’s economy. While agriculture constitutes approximately 40% of the nation’s exports and has demonstrated a robust 17% growth in value over the past four years, a significant portion of harvests is lost to spoilage due to inadequate processing infrastructure. The new project directly tackles this issue by leveraging Taiwan’s advanced technological expertise in food preservation and value-added production.
The program aims to empower approximately 200 local farmers, equipping them with the tools and knowledge to launch small-scale agro-processing enterprises. By converting perishable fresh produce into durable goods like dried fruits, juices, preserves, and other shelf-stable products, farmers can significantly reduce post-harvest losses, access higher-value markets, and increase their overall profitability. This partnership continues a long-standing tradition of Taiwanese development support, underscoring its role as a key ally in Belize’s agricultural and economic advancement.