Tropical farming research

More than 90% of all scientific activity takes place in the rich countries of the world. The same applies for research into agriculture, forestry and animal husbandry. This is quite a paradox since most people live in the poor countries. A great research effort is needed to find solutions for how these countries can achieve sustainable development, which can improve the living conditions for people. This is exactly the theme of this research project.

The project takes its point of departure in Belize, which is a typical Third World country. Belize is a former British colony, which only very late - in 1981 - got its independence. When Tropical Farming Ltd. started mango and banana production in 1986-87, Belize was thus a quite young country with a lot of development to catch up with, and therefore there were many good reasons to wish for an actual investigation of where it would be good to concentrate, so the result of one's efforts and investments would be maximum development.

This is why Tropical Farming Ltd. approached IFAS to get help in developing and implementing a research project with the aim of making a concrete proposal on how to create sustainable development within agriculture under the given conditions. A research project not only interesting for Belize, but also for a series of other countries in the world in a similar situation.

First a bit about the country Belize compared to Denmark:

• 7% or 1,600 sq. km of the area of Belize is described as being suited for agriculture; in Denmark 56% of the country is cultivated.
• The area of Denmark is twice as big as Belize, the population is 20 times as big and the gross national budget 600 times as big.
• Denmark has 3,000 km of railroads and 72,000 km of tarred roads.
• Belize has no railroads, 550 km of tarred roads and 2,200 km of gravel roads in a country with tropical downpours.
• The population of Belize was in 1987 180,000 people, of which 65-75% could read and write. 42% are less than 15 years old, which means that the economically active part of the population only comprises 34% compared to Denmark's 53%. The experienced and "adult" age group, 30-60 years, comprises 25% compared to Denmark's 42%. It is thus a younger, less educated and less experienced population which has to bring the country out of its poverty.
• In Belize, as well as in all other Third World countries, there is an enormous need for resolute efforts from the rich part of the world, whether in the form of direct investments, research or help to develop the level of education.¨

In 1987 Tropical Farming Ltd. and IFAS started a cooperation about this research project. The basic preconditions, potentials and conditions were to be investigated and uncovered. Thereafter were all information to be analyzed and processed. Actual concrete suggestions, models and recommendations for how to envisage a future sustainable development under the given conditions were to be elaborated.

Here are some of the hundreds of issues examined:

• The climatic conditions of the country - what crops are suited for the climate? The climate as a basis for industrial agricultural production.
• Agricultural conditions. What is grown in the country? The fertility of the soil in Southern Belize. What is imported to the country? How can the export be furthered? How can the import be substituted with local productions? Is there unused local potential which can be developed and used for production?
• Conditions on the global market - what can be sold, where and at what prices? A concrete market analysis in Europe and the US with the aim of establishing the possibilities for export of agricultural products from Belize to these markets.
• Transport systems and possibilities - over land, by boat, harbors, roads, transport companies. Mapping of infrastructures from producer to consumer - prices and potentials.
• The productive preconditions of the country - access to electricity, water, machines for processing. Development of new products, production methods and processing methods.
• Selection of the group of most suitable crop varieties.
• Securing that the products are produced by local materials, and that they can be produced by local workers in the future.
• Mapping of the local market's need for food produce.

The total budget for the research project was 1,8 million Dkr; of these, half a million Dkr to cover research expenses, one million Dkr for salaries of the manager, researchers and consultant, and the rest of it for renting a research center and for communication.

The actual research project lasted two years. After each project phase reports were elaborated and sent to the board of the Foundation, who read and discussed them with big interest.

The research project ended with a series of concrete and economically meaningful advice and directions. Here are some of them:

• A new agricultural policy for Belize is proposed which will increase the production of export products such as citrus, bananas and sugar, and simultaneously start production of meat from cattle, pigs and poultry, as well as cultivation of more fruits and vegetables for the local market and wheat for bread.
• Practically all the food being imported, could be produced in Belize. This is of great national economic importance since one fourth of Belize's import consists of food products.
• On 1,250 ha it is possible to grow sufficient vegetables for the whole population.
• On 4,000 ha it is possible to produce more wheat than what is being imported now.
• 125 ha with potatoes and tomatoes could substitute the import of fresh vegetables.
• 10,000 heads of cattle could graze on 10,000 ha and supply everyone in Belize with meat.
• Fruit trees around every house could produce fresh fruit for everybody.
• It was concluded that mango, citrus, bananas, cashew and, in addition, timber are the most obvious export products for Belize. The mangoes can be exported as fresh fruit, as mango juice, as dried or frozen mangoes or as sliced mangoes in salt brine. All of the banana production can be sold to England. The banana fields can be established on open land as opposed to the traditional cultivation methods of clearing bush or tropical forest. This is possible because regardless of the chosen soil, the cultivation must be supplied with the nutrients required by the bananas. This reduces the costs of clearing with 2/3.
• For timber production the planting of pine and eucalyptus was recommended.

Market analyses show that there is an increasing awareness of and need for healthier food all over the world. A more developed taste for exotic foods is emerging, especially fruit. The agriculture develops into agribusiness.

With regard to the American market it was found that the demand for citrus products and winter vegetables was growing, and so was the demand for tropical fruit such as mango, guava and passion fruit delivered on contract.

With regard to the western European market it was found that the demand for tropical fruit and juice was steadily growing, but the market was more divided between the countries compared to the American market.

With regard to the eastern European market it was found that the consumption of tropical fruit was very small. It could grow into a big potential market in a more distant future.

With regard to the Japanese market it was found that there were good possibilities for trade in tropical fruit and concentrated fruit.

Tropical Farming Ltd. is still operating an agricultural enterprise in Belize and has during these years carried out and tested the many recommendations and advice which resulted from the research project. The enterprise has aimed at being a trail blazing example of how it is possible in a Third World country as Belize to utilize the country's own resources to create sustainable agricultural development for the benefit of both economy as well as people. Tropical Farming Research as a project has meant a lot in this connection.

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