Belize and OIRSA

OIRSA opened its Representation in Belize in 1996 after the Belizean government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Organization, establishing its full membership in OIRSA as a full-fledged member state.

As one of its early activities, the organization implemented the Servicio Internacional de Tratamientos Cuarentenarios (SITC) in the country and has since been working collaboratively with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise through the Belize Agricultural Health Authority (BAHA) in regional programs and projects related to phytosanitary matters.

Animal Health

• Through the Regional Classical Swine Fever (CSF) Control Program, the tonsils of pigs have been sampled for possible disease diagnosis in border areas with Guatemala, reinforcing quarantine measures to prevent the introduction of pork products or by-products from that country. In addition, talks have been given to producers, and four prevention barriers have been installed at entry points with Guatemala. The diagnostic laboratory has been strengthened by acquiring materials to analyze collected samples.
• The OIRSA Representation in Belize also supported the implementation of the national livestock herd sweeping for determining the prevalence of Tuberculosis (TB) and Brucellosis (Br), incorporating the Trazar Agro traceability system. With funds from OIRSA in Mexico, eight veterinarians who participated in the sampling for TB and Br were hired. Through the OIRSA/IDB project, 'Harmonized Bovine Traceability System,' the animal identification system with traceability capacity was developed. One of the main achievements of these projects is highlighted by the fact that, in February 2013, Belize had its first live cattle export to Mexico.

Plant Health

• Within the framework of the OIRSA - ICDF Taiwan project: 'Strengthening the OIRSA region in the control of Huanglongbing (HLB) and the implementation of integrated pest management (IPM) in citrus,' two greenhouses were constructed—one for bud multiplication and the other for a germplasm bank—facilitating the production of healthy citrus plants for Belize and the region. Additionally, a coordinator has been hired to lead this project, along with four field technicians, to implement the activities included in it. To date, a protocol has been developed for demonstration plots that will serve as a field school to train citrus producers.
• El laboratorio regional de controladores biológicos ubicado en Belize continua con la producción masiva del parasitoide Anagyrus kamali, controlador biológico de la Cochinilla Rosada del Hibisco, Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Green). En los últimos cinco años se logró liberar más de 1.3 millones de especímenes en la región del OIRSA, específicamente, para el control biológico de esta devastadora plaga.  En el año 2020 se inició con la reproducción de otros enemigos naturales en el laboratorio, los cuales son producidos a gran escala para el control biológico de plagas de importancia económica. La Chrysoperla carnea insecto depredador altamente eficiente para el control biológico de numerosos insectos plagas de cuerpo blando como la mosca blanca, trips, áfidos, cochinillas entre otros. La avispa diminuta Trichogramma pretiosum parasitoide de huevecillos de plagas lepidópteros, se reproducen masivamente en el laboratorio cuales son liberados como un componente importante para un programa de manejo integrado de plagas. En los últimos años se ha capacitado más de 260 agricultores, técnicos de campo, extensionistas, y estudiantes sobre el implementación y liberación de los enemigos naturales. Con el fin de validar esta nueva tecnología en Belize, el OIRSA unió esfuerzos con instituciones y el Ministerio de Agricultura de Belize para  efectuar más de 10 proyectos pilotos en campo en diversos cultivos de la zona para demostrar la efectividad de los enemigos naturales como Bemisia tabaci en el cultivo de coco, Plutella xylostella en Brassicas, Diaphorina citri en cítricos, Pseudococcus elisae en banano, Megalurothrips usitatus en frijol, Diatraea saccharalis en caña de azúcar, Diaphania nitidalis en pepino y Spodoptera frugiperda en maíz.  En la actualidad agricultores están utilizando esta tecnología en sus parcelas con el fin de reducir la utilización de grandes cantidades de agroquímicos y buscan la reducción del costo de producción obteniendo mayor rentabilidad.

Quarantine:

The Representation supported the competent authorities in the implementation of the Remote Diagnosis System using digital images. OIRSA initiated this project with the acquisition of cameras adaptable to the BAHA stereoscopes, which the BAHA has used to acquire additional funds from the IDB and to complete this project with all quarantine stations capable of making remote diagnoses using digital images.