Sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture project in Belize

The Belize Climate-Smart Sustainable and Resilient Agriculture Project (CRESAP) aims to increase agricultural productivity and promote the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices among farmers. The project focuses on addressing the vulnerabilities of the agricultural sector to climate change by promoting sustainable practices that increase resilience and productivity. In addition, CRESAP includes a mechanism to respond quickly to crises or emergencies. The project is designed to support smallholder farmers who are transitioning to commercial production, while also benefiting larger commercial farms, with a particular focus on the adoption of climate-smart agriculture techniques. The main components of the project include institutional strengthening, investments in climate-smart agriculture, and project management and monitoring. Institutional strengthening seeks to improve the capacities of agricultural institutions, such as the Ministry of Agriculture and the National Weather Service, as well as the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA). This includes improved management systems, agro-meteorological monitoring, and sustainable pest control practices. The Climate-Smart Agriculture investment component finances CSA technologies through grants to farmers, focusing on improving water management, promoting sustainable land use, and supporting collective infrastructure such as drainage systems. CRESAP also places emphasis on capacity-building activities for financial institutions, ensuring that they can support CSA initiatives. These activities include technical assistance and business training for farmers, with a focus on fostering the participation of women farmers, addressing gender gaps in access to resources.