By Belize Live News Staff: In a significant step toward economic empowerment for rural women, the Ministry of Investment has launched the “Vanilla Training for Women and Girls in Western and Southern Belize” in Bella Vista Village. The collaborative effort includes the Office of the Prime Minister, the National Women’s Commission (NWC), the Taiwan Technical Mission, and Belize Permaculture & Renewable Energy Ltd, with the aim of training 30 women from the Toledo District in vanilla cultivation.
The initiative will provide hands-on training in growing, propagating, and harvesting vanilla, empowering women with the skills to produce one of the world’s most valuable spices. Vanilla farming offers a high-value opportunity for rural communities, enabling women to contribute to their local economy while working close to home. The project also includes plans to establish a vanilla propagation nursery at Bella Vista Government Secondary School, creating a local resource that benefits the wider community.
Participants will learn essential techniques such as hand-pollination, husbandry, and post-harvest practices that improve the quality of vanilla for export. With a focus on increasing the acreage of vanilla production in Belize, this project positions Belize as a potential player in the global vanilla market. Vanilla, known for its popularity in food and cosmetic products, is one of the world’s most labor-intensive crops, which adds to its high market value and international demand.
Attendees at the project launch included Dr. Osmond Martinez, Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Trade; Thea Garcia-Ramirez, President of the NWC; and key officials from the Taiwan Technical Mission, underscoring the importance of this initiative in the country’s development agenda.
This project not only aims to enhance income opportunities but also strengthens the agricultural capacity within rural Belize, providing sustainable skills and resources for women. For further information, reach out to Nadicah Galvez, Investment Policy Officer at the Ministry of Investment, via investment.policyofficer@invest.gov.bz or call 828-6704.
