10 days ago, we showed you our interview with Agriculture Minister Godwin Hulse, who briefly discussed the biggest problems facing the citrus industry in the south.
The industry must recover from this year's drought, as well as citrus greening disease, which has wiped out huge acreages of crops. But, while they battle with the risks of disease and natural disaster, the Citrus Growers Association is in a crisis of its own. This farmers group is saddled with debt it can no longer service, and it is staring down the prospect of bankruptcy.
It's a major income earner for residents of Stann Creek, and so, Rodwell Ferguson, the PUP Area Rep for Stann Creek West, decided today, that he must draw the public's attention to this crisis. He called a press briefing at his party's headquarters in Belize City to ask the Government to intervene before the industry completely collapses:
Hon. Rodwell Ferguson - PUP Area Rep, Stann Creek West
"I'm a product of the citrus industry. I work with the Citrus industry all my life before I entered politics. And I have seen over the years, a declining citrus industry. I think as the elected representative for Stann Creek West, I need to register the direction I see the industry is going. In the '70s and '80s, a citrus crop was from September to June."
"A citrus crop is basically, now, only from January to May. That's only 5 months, compared to 8-9 months about 20 years ago. That has a tripling effect, both on the Town of Dangriga, and all the surrounding villages that use to live off the citrus industry."
"Twenty years ago, it peaked at about 8 million boxes, and now it has declined to a little over 2 million boxes. This year, I believe it will be less than 2 million boxes."
"I believe that this industry if it was properly recognized and noticed by the government, would realize that this industry is definitely dwindling. Several times in the National Assembly, I brought it up, and I cautioned the Ministry of Agriculture, please place some attention on the citrus industry. It is dying, and it needs a revival."
"I know of late, they are diversifying into the pineapple. I hope there is enough product in the future, to be able to sustain an industry that needs some serious attention. Only 1 company is operating. That's is the BFP factory. CPBL is basically non-functional, and I think if the ministry intervenes, they can find other activities for the CPBL factory to be able to process other fruits. So, I am hopeful that after today - I'm here because I am concerned about the welfare of the people of the Stann Creek District. Their livelihoods have been cut, and we need to find a solution to how that can be remedied."
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