http://www.fao.org/rural-employment/en/ Presentations delivered on the 7th of September 2015 in Barbados, during the launch of the new FAO project “Strengthening decent rural employment opportunities for young women and men in the Caribbean”, developed in collaboration with the IFAD. The project will operate for 3 years in 9 countries of the Sub-region, namely: St. Lucia, Grenada, Guyana, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados, Haiti, Belize, Cuba and Dominican Republic. The programme is an example of effective inter-agency cooperation and aims to promote rural youth employment opportunities in the Caribbean by facilitating the development of targeted policies, partnerships and investments. The project will be implemented by the FAO Sub-regional Office for the Caribbean, in Barbados. The presentations show the perspectives and contributions of the different partners involved in the project. ©FAO: http://www.fao.org

1. LAUNCH AND POLICY DIALOGUE
REGIONAL FAO-IFAD Project
STRENGHENING 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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

7. Main Labor Force Indicators
April 2015
Total Male Female
Total 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

8. 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.

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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)

13. 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

14. 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

15. THANK YOU