By Belize Live News Staff: In addition to the looming threat of the New World Screwworm, Belize’s agriculture sector is now battling a Fusarium outbreak affecting approximately 40,000 acres of sugar cane. The fungal disease, which thrives in warm and humid conditions, poses a significant risk to the country’s sugar cane industry, one of Belize’s most critical agricultural sectors. According to Agriculture Minister Jose Mai, the disease is already causing varying degrees of damage, from mild infections to severe infestations, depending on climate factors like rain and humidity.
Minister Mai expressed concerns about the spread of the disease, highlighting the potential for fields with mild infections to become more seriously affected under the current weather conditions. In response to the gravity of the situation, Mai brought the issue to the Cabinet, seeking a declaration of a state of emergency specifically for agricultural disease control. However, existing legislation does not support such measures for agricultural crises; current provisions for a state of emergency only cover natural disasters like floods and fires, not plant or animal diseases.
“I went to cabinet and explained to them. I think that there was a request for us to declare a state of emergency, but there’s no law for us, there’s no provision of the law for us to do that on agriculture,” Minister Mai said, voicing his frustration over the limitations of Belize’s Disaster Act.
The Ministry of Agriculture and the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) are monitoring the Fusarium outbreak closely, but without the legal framework for emergency intervention, the options for immediate action are limited.
As the disease continues to spread, the government is urging cane farmers to remain vigilant and follow recommended agricultural practices to help curb further outbreaks. The impact of Fusarium on Belize’s sugar cane industry could be substantial if left unchecked, with potentially devastating consequences for farmers and the national economy.
