LAUNCH AND POLICY DIALOGUE

REGIONAL FAO-IFAD ProjectSTRENGHENING DECENT RURAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

FOR YOUNG WOMEN AND MEN IN THE CARIBBEAN

7 - 9 September 2015 Bridgetown, Barbados

BELIZE Elvira Pinelo & Melissa Almendarez

Ministry of Education Youth and Sports & Ministry of Natural Resources & Agriculture

Belize is a country on the eastern coast of Central America. It is the only country in Central America whose official language is English, though Belizean Creole (Kriol) and Spanish are also commonly spoken. Belize is bordered on the north by Mexico, on the south and west by Guatemala, and on the east by the Caribbean Sea. Its mainland is about 290 km (180 mi) long and 110 km (68 mi) wide.

With 8,866 sq miles of land and as of 2014 a population of 340,844 Belize has the lowest population density in Central America. The country's population growth rate of 1.97% per year (2013) is the second highest in the region and one of the highest in the Western Hemisphere.

Belize has a diverse society, composed of many cultures and languages that reflect its rich history. Originally part of the British Empire, it shares a common colonial history with other Caribbean countries. From 1862 to 1973 the area went by the name of British Honduras. It became an independent Commonwealth realm in 1981, retaining Queen Elizabeth II as head of state.

BELIZE

Belize is considered a Central American and Caribbean nation with strong ties to both the Latin American and Caribbean regions. It is a member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), and the Central American Integration System (SICA), the only country to hold full membership in all three regional organizations.

Belize is known for its September Celebrations, its extensive coral reefs, and punta music.

BELIZE

BELIZE AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT

The Department of Agriculture’s primary role is to develop and transfer environmentally friendly technologies that will make farming more sustainable and farmers more competitive.

The department has four main thematic programs, three district agriculture stations and one experimental station at Central Farm. All the programs are headed by a National Coordinator.

The four programs are:

Livestock Development

Crop Development

Fruit Tree and Marketing

Agro-processing and Extension Services.

BELIZE AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT

The different programs provide vital services that include:

farm visits, breeding stock, breeding services of all major livestock species, grafted and non-grafted fruit tree seedlings, hard wood seedlings, identify markets and conduct market studies, development of new value-added products, carrying out training for farmers and the development of technical materials, carry out research and other developmental activities, organize agriculture fairs/shows, liaise with other extension services within the country, and implement the programs and policies of the Ministry.

BELIZE

Youth as defined by the Belize National Youth Development Policy of 2012 is a young man or woman who is between the ages of fifteen (15) to twenty nine (29) years of age and who has pass through the dependent stage off childhood and is transitioning from adolescence to adult maturity.

1. Youth – AGE RANGE 15 to 29 years

2. Childhood – BIRTH to 15 years

3. Adolescence – 10 to 18 years

4. Adult – 18 years and older

Main Labor Force Indicators April 2015

  Total Male FemaleTotal Population 366,304 183,153 183,151

Under 14 122,208 61,775 60,433

Employed 138,145 86,489 51,656

Unemployed 15,544 6,333 9,211

Persons Not in the Labour Force 88,326 27,597 60,730

DK/NS 2,080 959 1,122

Working Age Population (14 and older) 66.1% 65.7% 66.4%

Unemployment Rate 10.1% 6.8% 15.1%

Labour Force Participation Rate 63.5% 77.1% 50.1%

Source: Labour Force Survey, April 2015; Statistical Institute of Belize

Note: DK/NS = Don't know/not stated

National Youth Development Policy

• In 2012 the National Youth Development Policy in Belize was launched

• There are significant budgeting gaps and implementation is dormant

The Protective Structures Research Unit provides training to students of the University of Belize Faculty of Agriculture in Tomato Production under protective structures.

National Youth Development Policy

• There is a section specific on rural youth involvement

• There is a section specific on youth employment and NO specific strategy/actions defined for youth employment in agriculture

Agriculture Teachers recieving seedlings

Main challenges for Youth in agriculture

• Limited access to farm land and land in general• Financing resources available but difficult to qualify• Education in agriculture available at 5 secondary and 1

tertiary level; post graduate not available in country• One institution in the country that provides agriculture skills

training for in and out of school youth and targeting rural communities

Main challenges for Youth in agriculture

• Producers and organizations are closed ventures not open opportunity

• Policies for forming cooperatives require review and realignment to existing norms and practices

Programmes in place for youth in agriculture

• Ministry of Education, Youth & Sports National 4H Youth Development Center (In and Out of School Youth /

Youth in Agriculture Award / Pig Rearing project / Job placement) Agriculture in Schools (5 Secondary Institutions & 1 Tertiary level)

Programmes in place for youth in agriculture

• Ministry of Natural Resources & Agriculture Small Scale Agriculture Program (school gardening in primary schools

& Family Farming) Provide technical support to secondary schools and small farmers

(majority of the farmer support is to persons 40-65 years old) Youth Farmer of the Year award/recognition as apart of the Annual

National Agriculture Trade Show

Extent of Technical Support to Schools

Establishment of: • Root crop and fruit tree plot• Grain production plot• Vegetable production plot • An alternative planting systems plot• A fruit tree nursery • An area for the production for Natural Soil Amendments• Installation of drip irrigation systems (Tunnel & Open field)• Installation of a fertigation unit • Installation of a fertigation unit (gravity fed)• Tunnel/Cover Structure• Seedlings

THANK YOU