Latinamerica
Belize
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Country Situation
Belize was the site of several Mayan city states until their decline at the end of the first millennium A.D. The British and Spanish disputed the region in the 17th and 18th centuries; it formally became the colony of British Honduras in 1854. Territorial disputes between the UK and Guatemala delayed the independence of Belize until 1981. Guatemala refused to recognize the new nation until 1992. Tourism has become the mainstay of the economy. Current concerns include an unsustainable foreign debt, high unemployment, growing involvement in the South American drug trade, growing urban crime, and increasing incidences of HIV/AIDS.
| Population (millions)1 | 0.30 |
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| Population growth (annual %)1 | 2.0 |
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| Surface area (km2, thousands)1 | 23.0 |
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| Capital city2 | Belmopan |
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| Currency2 | Belizean dollar |
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| GDP (US$ billions)1 | 1.21 |
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| GDP growth (annual %)1 | 5.6 |
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| GNI per capita (PPP, current international $)1 | 7,080 |
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| Official development assistance received (2006, US$ millions)3 | 7.61 |
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| UN HDI rank4 | 80 |
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| Life expectancy at birth (years)4 | 75.9 |
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| Adult literacy rate (% aged 15 and above)4 | 75.1 |
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| Infant mortality rate (per 1,000 live births)4 | 15 |
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Sources
1 The World Bank: Key Development Data & Statistics http://go.worldbank.org/1SF48T40L0; data for 2006, unless stated.
2 CIA: The World Factbook https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/; data for 2008, unless stated.
3 OECD: OECD.Stat Extracts http://webnet.oecd.org/wbos/index.aspx; data for 2006, unless stated.
4 UNDP: Human Development Report 2007/2008 http://hdr.undp.org/en/; data for 2005, unless stated.
TaiwanICDF Operations in Belize
The TaiwanICDF presently has one technical mission in Belize with six members working on three agricultural industry and crop diversification and improvement projects. Additionally, one technical assistance project and two investment and lending projects are being conducted.
Technical Mission
Seed Rice Production and Technology Transfer Project
The technical mission is transferring rice seed production technology, establishing production systems, and providing guidance to outstanding farmers and local technicians. In 2004, farmers were assisted in developing paddy fields and were provided with improved rice production technologies. Seed rice was produced in the Central Farm and Poppy Show districts. The mission also produced 14,638 kg of Taichung Hsien No. 10 rice and 9,136 kg of CARDI#70 this year. Cultivation of CARDI#70 was extended to 88 acres and 430 acres for Jasmine rice. Five brand new varieties of seed rice have been discovered and are currently under observation.
Vegetable and Crop Production Improvement and Extension Project
This project is providing farmers with vegetable production techniques for planting market-oriented crops, decreasing the amount of vegetable imports, and boosting the local economy at the same time. It is also creating production and marketing teams to provide fruits and vegetables to supermarkets, restaurants, and cruise ships. In 2004, onion, passion fruit, wax apple, guava and red beans were acquired and screened. Potato cultivation was extended to 40 ha, 5 ha for radish, 5 ha for cabbage and 2 ha for onion.Chili pepper production and marketing teams were organized, and chili pepper cultivation was extended to 10 ha. The mission also assisted in a farming project at schools in the Orange Walk district. In cooperation with Belize's Ministry of Agriculture, nursing houses were created for tomatoes and chilies. The mission also provided US$6,250 for farmers to build five onion storages.
Food Processing Project
This project is contributing to the diversification of Belize's agricultural industry by developing value-added products through food processing. The project is researching and developing processed food products with market potential, training food processing technicians, transfering know-how in building food factories to local enterprises, and upgrading the level of existing small and middle food manufacturers. In 2004, the feasibility of dehydrated papaya production and marketing was assessed. In addition, dehydrated pineapple products, banana chip snack foods and processed chili pepper products were developed. Dehydrated and processed food demonstrations, seminars, and workshops were conducted. Food processing technology consulting and assistance services were provided to both production and marketing teams and the Cassava Bread Company.
Technical Assistance
Food Processing Technical Assistance Project
The TaiwanICDF is carrying out training courses in baking, in fruit processing technology, and bee and soybean products. Local seed instructors and food specialists are also being trained to guide industry development.
Investment and Lending
Tourism Development Project
The TaiwanICDF is assisting in the development of tourism and in promoting Mayan cultural artifacts in an environmentally sustainable manner. This increases employment opportunities, foreign exchange, and government income in Belize.
Small Farmholders' Financing Scheme
The technical mission, in conjunction with the Belize Enterprise for Sustainable Technology, is implementing this project. A small farmers' fund has been created in line with horticulture and crop extension projects. It is helping to provide working capital financing.
