2025-3-17

The Taiwan Technical Mission in Belize held a graduation ceremony for the "Small-Scale Vanilla Cultivation Training Program" on March 6. The event was attended by several distinguished guests, including Belize’s Minister of Youth, Sports, and Transport, Rodwell Ferguson, representatives from the National Women's Commission, and officials from the Ministry of Finance's Investment Policy and Compliance Unit (IPCU).

This training program is a key initiative under the TaiwanICDF’s Assisting the Economic Empowerment of Women Project in Latin America and the Caribbean in the Post COVID-19 Era. A total of 30 participants successfully completed the program, including personnel from the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), teachers and students from agricultural high schools, and women from the local community. Upon completion of the course, each female participant received 10 vanilla seedlings to practice their newly acquired skills in their backyard, enabling small-scale production. Representatives from institutions and schools will also take vanilla seedlings back to their respective farms, working alongside two regional nurseries to serve as demonstration and promotion centers.

During the graduation ceremony, Minister Rodwell Ferguson emphasized that although vanilla requires several years to grow before harvesting, its economic value is significant. He expressed hope that vanilla could develop into a major industry for Belize, similar to cacao, and contribute to women's economic independence. Taiwan’s Ambassador to Belize, Lily Li-Wen Hsu, expressed her satisfaction that Taiwan has provided substantial support at the early stage of Belize’s vanilla industry development. IPCU Director Lincoln Blake also conveyed his appreciation to Taiwan and highlighted Belize’s potential in the vanilla industry, hoping the country can transition from import substitution to export, targeting markets in Europe, the U.S., and Taiwan. Additionally, he envisioned integrating the vanilla industry with local tourism to create unique experiences that would further boost economic growth.

TaiwanICDF Deputy Secretary General Pei-Fen Hsieh noted that vanilla is the second most expensive spice in the world, with strong demand for it in the food, cosmetics, and industrial sectors, offering promising market opportunities. Despite the presence of wild vanilla in Belize’s pristine jungles and the country’s ideal growing conditions for the spice, commercial production has yet to be established there. Hsieh emphasized that the Taiwan Technical Mission is pleased to seize the opportunity and will continue to support Belize in developing the vanilla industry, creating more economic opportunities in the future.

Article courtesy of International Cooperation and Development Fund