AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums Belize Life Living in Belize Vegetable import ban

...so I can't indulge in a cinnamon bun while I'm on vacation?

Forget cinnamon buns -- what about the import of grains and hops for Belikin!?

What was I thinking??? Thanks for putting a grain import ban into the correct perspective, Otter

Now that really hurts! Belikin revolt!

The Belize Agriculture Minister is either a genius or an idiot.

Right now around the several countries have either banned the exportation of staple foods or are considering it. The countries are trying to ensure that enough food is available to feed their citizens first. The ironic part is that banning food exportation forces farmers to sell at lower local prices so the farmers are inclined to grow fewer crops. So the end result is that the world food shortage gets worse.

Now Belize is doing the exact opposite and encouraging more food to be grown by banning imports. I suspect it is all being done to line some pockets of some politicians and a big vegetable grower or two, but still it might accidentally do some good in the long term.

Good intentions, bad execution.

They should have placed significant duties on imports over several years, taken that money and used it for research, infrastructure and grants for farmers to implement the new technologies. Then, after several years all imports could be banned without significant impact to retailers, restaurateurs, hoteliers and the general population.

Far better to facilitate local production of foodstuffs such that people choose to buy it instead of imported goods. No need for bans or prohibitions - just ensure the market does it for itself.

That also has the spinoff of reducing the scope for corruption, so on reflection it wouldn't work.

I think if you make imported red bell peppers US$100 per pound, folks here will really enjoy the little green bells produced in Belize a whole lot.

forget flour & hops..what about RICE????? Yes, Otter, I know rice is a grain but methinks you were thinking of other varieties

That press release is a bunch of bull. Last month, there were no baby carrots, mushrooms, broccoli, cauliflower (we were told by the owner of the produce shop that what was shipped here by the mennonites was un-saleable), red or yellow peppers and the worst of all only the half rotten little red potatoes. It is extremely hard to cook for tourists when there is so little to choose from and poor quality to boot. Perhaps there is an abundant variety and good quality of veggies on the mainland, but that certainly has not been the case since they banned imports. Curious how this has happened now that there is a menonite in the cabinet, huh?