Belize has announced a BZ$50 million ($24.7 million) grant from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) in support of the country’s largest climate change project focused on sugarcane farmers.

The grant will co-finance the Building the Adaptive Capacity of Sugarcane Farmers in Northern Belize project, which aims to bolster climate resilience in the sugarcane industry. Eleven project funding proposals were put to the GCF board for approval, with Belize being the only Caribbean country to propose a project.

Spearheaded by the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre, the project is designed to build physical and financial resilience by scaling up new climate-adapted sugarcane varieties, replanting and managing sugarcane crops using climate-smart practices, and managing moisture through the introduction of irrigation and drainage systems. A primary goal of the initiative is to build knowledge systems that enable farmers and other industry stakeholders to implement physical changes in their farming systems to transform industry practices.

“This project marks a pivotal moment in Belize’s journey toward climate resilience,” said Belize Ministry of Economic Development CEO Osmond Martinez. “By integrating innovative technologies and sustainable practices, we aim to not only fortify the sugarcane industry against climate vulnerabilities, but also pave the way for broader agricultural resilience across the country."

(Photo credit: Getty Images/santosha)