On June 26, Amb. Lily Li-Wen Hsu was glad to attend the opening ceremony of 2024 National Forum on Banana Disease Fusarium TR4 and Simulation Exercise. The event is under the “Regional Project for the Prevention and Control of Fusarium Tropical Race 4 of Banana in Central America” collaborated between the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise (MAFSE) of Belize, Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF), and the International Regional Organization for Plant and Animal Health (OIRSA).
Through comprehensive discussions and hands-on simulation exercise, the Forum seeks to enhance Belize’s capacity to prevent and control Fusarium TR4 banana disease, thereby safeguarding banana plantations, farmers’ livelihoods, and ensuring food security in the country.
At the Forum, a disease-resistant banana variety being introduced to Belize from Taiwan “Formosana” was also presented. It is hoped that with close collaboration, the sustainable development of banana industry in Belize will be ensured.
Also present at the ceremony were Hon. Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise, Hon. Alex Balona, Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs. Zoe Zetina, Managing Director of Belize Agricultural Health Authority(BAHA), Mr. Fermin Blanco, Country representative of OIRSA, Mr. Elroy Forman, Director of the Banana Growers Association (BGA), Dr. Vincent Palacio, President of the University of Belize, officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food of the Republic of Guatemala, international presenters from Colombia, Cuba, Honduras, experts from TaiwanICDF, and stakeholders in the banana industry from Belize and Guatemala.
