Development and Sustainable Agriculture in Central America: a Case Study of Belize
Development and Sustainable Agriculture in Central America:
A Case Study of Belize
ABSTRACT This paper examines a sample of the numerous obstacles that affect and inhibit economic, social, environmental, and agricultural development within the Central American country of Belize. After surveying a number of these influences, agricultural development (as it relates to overall development) will be explored in depth, with special attention given to environmentally safe agrarian practices and to organizations that aid Belize and other Central American countries in developing sustainably.
Development and Sustainable Agriculture in Central America:
A Case Study of Belize Belize, a country situated between Mexico and Guatemala on the Caribbean side of Central America, boasts rich natural resources and is home to a unique and diverse cultural environment. Although much of the region has been prone to political instability and internal conflict, the small country of Belize has been a relatively stable and prosperous nation. However, economic and social inequalities (vestiges of the country’s colonial heritage), disparities of the resources available to rural and urban areas, and problems in education, infrastructure, and communication hinder the state’s development. A growing interest among Belizean farmers in healthier and more efficient agriculture is leading to the intervention of international non-profit organizations, which aim to promote sustainable farming methods. The improvement of agrarian practices has the potential confront and overcome many of the obstructions to development that Belize and other Central American countries face today.
A summary of development in Belize Like many countries in the region, the notion of underdevelopment characterizes Belize, thanks in part to the legacy of British colonialism. Today, lingering effects of colonial practices are “manifested . . . in high rates of poverty, increasing foreign debt, and
A Case Study of Belize
ABSTRACT This paper examines a sample of the numerous obstacles that affect and inhibit economic, social, environmental, and agricultural development within the Central American country of Belize. After surveying a number of these influences, agricultural development (as it relates to overall development) will be explored in depth, with special attention given to environmentally safe agrarian practices and to organizations that aid Belize and other Central American countries in developing sustainably.
Development and Sustainable Agriculture in Central America:
A Case Study of Belize Belize, a country situated between Mexico and Guatemala on the Caribbean side of Central America, boasts rich natural resources and is home to a unique and diverse cultural environment. Although much of the region has been prone to political instability and internal conflict, the small country of Belize has been a relatively stable and prosperous nation. However, economic and social inequalities (vestiges of the country’s colonial heritage), disparities of the resources available to rural and urban areas, and problems in education, infrastructure, and communication hinder the state’s development. A growing interest among Belizean farmers in healthier and more efficient agriculture is leading to the intervention of international non-profit organizations, which aim to promote sustainable farming methods. The improvement of agrarian practices has the potential confront and overcome many of the obstructions to development that Belize and other Central American countries face today.
A summary of development in Belize Like many countries in the region, the notion of underdevelopment characterizes Belize, thanks in part to the legacy of British colonialism. Today, lingering effects of colonial practices are “manifested . . . in high rates of poverty, increasing foreign debt, and
References: Babcock, Elizabeth C. and Dennis Conway. 2000. "Why International Migration Has Important Consequences for the Development of Belize." Conference of Latin Americanist Geographers Yearbook 26:71-86. Cornell, Joseph. 2007. "Slash and Burn." Encyclopedia of Earth. Washington, D.C.: Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment. Retrieved on November 21, 2009 from http://www.eoearth.org/ article/Slash_and_burn. Cropley, Lorelei. 2004. “The Effect of Health Education Interventions on Child Malaria Treatment-seeking Practices Among Mothers in Rural Refugee Villages in Belize, Central America.” Health Promotion International 19:2-8. Duffy, Rosaleen. 2000. “Shadow Players: Ecotourism Development, Corruption and State Politics in Belize.” Third World Quarterly 21:549-565. Francis, Brian. 2006. "The Nature and Extent of Agricultural Export Diversification in Belize and Dominica." Journal of Eastern Caribbean Studies 31:39-64. Francis, Brian, Sunday Osaretin Iyare, and Troy Lorde. 2007. “Agricultural Export Diversification and Economic Growth in Caribbean Countries: Cointegration and Error-Correction Models.” The International Trade Journal 21:229-256. Gaarder, Robert and Carolyn McCommon. 1990. “Hershey Foods, Cocoa, and Belize: A Collaborative Model for Third World Development.” Public Administration and Development 10:343-360. GMO Compass. 2006. “Biodiversity.” Retrieved on November 18, 2009 from http://www.gmo-compass.org/eng/safety/environmental_safety/ 166.biodiversity_threatened_genetically_modified_plants.html. Hilborn, R., C. J. Walters, and D. Ludwig. 1995. “Sustainable Exploitation of Renewable Resources.” Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 26:45-67. Human Development Reports. 2009. “Human Development Report 2009: Belize.” New York, NY: Author. Retrieved on November 15, 2009 from http://hdrstats.undp.org/countries/country_fact_sheets/cty_fs_BLZ.html. Kidon Media Link. 2001. “Newspapers and News Sources from Belize.” Author. Retrieved on November 14, 2009 from http://www.kidon.com/media-link/bz.php. Lewis, M. Paul. 2009. “Languages of Belize.” Dallas, TX: Ethologue: Languages of the World. Retrieved on November 12, 2009 from http://www.ethnologue.com/ show_map.asp?name=BZ&seq=10. Library of Congress. 1992. “Belize: A Country Study.” Washington, DC: Tim Merrill. Retrieved on November 14, 2009 from: http://countrystudies.us/belize. Peedle, Ian. 2006. "Country Profile Belize." New Internationalist 392:36-36. Sustainable Harvest International. 2008a. “International Programs – Country Programs.” Surry, ME: Author. Retrieved on November 18, 2009 from http://www.sustainableharvest.org/Country_programs.cfm. Sustainable Harvest International. 2008b. “International Programs – Techniques.” Surry, ME: Author. Retrieved on November 18, 2009 from http://www.sustainableharvest.org/techniques.cfm. Sustainable Harvest International. 2008c. “Who We are – History.” Surry, ME: Author. Retrieved on November 18, 2009 from http://www.sustainableharvest.org/ history.cfm. Sustainable Harvest International. 2008d. “Who We Are – Mission.” Surry, ME: Author. Retrieved on November 18, 2009 from http://www.sustainableharvest.org/ whoweare.cfm. Sustainable Harvest International. 2009. “Annual Report FY2009.” Surry, ME: Author. Retrieved on November 18, 2009 from http://www.sustainableharvest.org/ pub_annualreports/AnnualReportFY2009.pdf. U.S. Department of State. 2001. FY 2001 Country Commercial Guide: Belize. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. [pic] (Lewis 2009)