In 2023, Belize witnessed a decline in agricultural exports, primarily attributed to adverse climate conditions and challenges within the citrus industry, as explained by the Minister of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise (MAFSE), Jose Abelardo Mai, during the Budget Debate.
Despite a notable increase in agricultural exports from $349.5 million in 2020 to $462.5 million in 2022, the sector saw a reduction to $390.3 million in 2023. This downturn was significantly influenced by the citrus industry's struggle, marking its lowest export revenue since the 1980s, alongside decreases in banana exports to CARICOM.
Mai highlighted that, additionally, Hurricane Lisa and residual flooding from 2021 adversely affected sugar and banana production, respectively. Despite these setbacks in the export sector, local agricultural production has seen a boost, with traditional exports, including citrus, showing signs of revival.
Source: breakingbelizenews.com