Belmopan, Thurs. Oct. 14, 2021– On Thursday, October 14, Blue Creek farmers loaded 166 head of cattle that will be shipped to Michoacán, Mexico as part of a trade initiative made possible through the efforts of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise, and the Belize Livestock Producers Association.

As a result of the new trade arrangement, SuKarne, a Mexican meat processing company, has purchased 1,642 live animals from Belizean farmers, which has generated roughly BZ$1.5 million in revenue for the local cattle industry since last year.

According to a Government of Belize press release, “Belize and Mexico continue exploring coordination of their systems of phytosanitary control and expansion of partial scope agreements to enhance trade between the two countries”.

In addition, in an effort to improve the genetic variety and quality of its home-grown cattle, Belize facilitated 110 beef bovine embryotic implantations of Black Brangus and Braford cattle in the Blue Creek Village on October 5 and 6. The Government of Belize had imported embryos from Argentina based on consultations with the major agricultural stakeholders in Belize.