By Tecla Fontenard, Communications Specialist, CCCCC
The CCCCC through extensive consultations with key stakeholders in Belize successfully completed a GCF Project Preparation Grant aimed at assisting farmers in Northern Belize in building adaptive capacity to climate change. The Project, valued at USD 25 million is the latest one to be approved by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the single largest investment to directly benefit cane farmers in Belize. The Grant was signed in Kigali, Rwanda on March 5, 2024.
To deliver the Project, the CCCCC will work with 6 local entities in Belize, namely, the Sugar Industry Research and Development Institute (SIRDI), Belize Sugar Industries Limited (BSI), and four sugarcane farmers’ associations (Belize Sugar Cane Farmers Association, Northern Sugar Cane Farmers Association, Progressive Sugar Cane Producers Association, and Corozal Sugar Cane Producers Association). Together, these public-private sector entities will back the GCF’s USD 25 million, co-financing a sum of USD 13.8 million.
Dr Colin Young, Executive Director of the CCCCC who was in Kigali during the signing ceremony expressed with jubilation, “This initiative marks a notable milestone in our efforts to fortify climate resilience within a pivotal sector that accounts for 14% of agricultural revenue in Belize and will benefit over 15% of the country’ s population significantly impacting the lives and livelihoods of over 5000 farmers and their families in northern Belize.”
The five-year project aims to improve crop diversity, while providing sustainable water and land management techniques for improved productivity and a robust supply chain. It will also strengthen transformative knowledge systems that build resilience to climate impacts.
With multiple social and environmental co-benefits, the government and people of Belize can expect improved industry best practices that will support their long-term goals for the sugarcane sector. According to Project Development Specialist, Mr Ryan Zuniga, who had the lead responsibility to write the project, “The approval of such a historical investment in safeguarding their livelihoods under a changing climate has been described as euphoric by many industry stakeholders. While this project is celebrated and seen as a big step in the right direction, the government remains committed to building climate resilience in communities across the entire country.”
“A project of this magnitude takes a couple years to build”, he added, “as such, “the fact that stakeholders maintained their commitment and level of effort throughout the process was inspiring and I am happy to support resilience building efforts of some of the most vulnerable people and their livelihoods in my native home.”
When completed the project is expected to have world-class standards and guidelines that will mainstream climate considerations into site selection, land preparation (inclusive of weed and pest control), soil management, planting, and ratoon management.
