New Cattle Export Corral to Boost Belize-Mexico Trade

Cattle farmers in northern Belize are getting a new facility to help prepare their animals for export. Ground has been broken for a cattle export corral in Chan Chen Village, Corozal District, as the industry looks to increase production and expand sales to Mexico.  The facility is expected to provide a place for cattle to be handled and inspected before export. For producers, it’s an investment in the infrastructure needed to get their animals to market.  Chairman of the Belize Livestock Producers Association, Arden Edwards, spoke about some of the challenges cattle farmers face and what the corral could mean for the industry.

Servulo Baeza, CEO, Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise: “This collaboration combines the Ministry’s leadership in agricultural development with the Belize Social Investment Fund’s experience in project implementation to strengthen the support available to Belizean producers. Agriculture is the true foundation of Belize’s economy, contributing significantly to our national GDP. And at the very heart of this productivity is our beef cattle industry, a sector driven by the resilience, sweat, and dedication of our livestock farmers. The BLPA’s 47th Annual General Meeting, held earlier this year, reported close to 8,000 active registered farmers, underscoring the growth, potential, and importance of this industry to the agriculture sector. These farmers have worked tirelessly for years to raise high-quality, disease-free cattle that are highly sought after across our borders. However, unlocking our full economic potential requires the right infrastructure. That is why the opening of this new cattle export corral right here in Chan Chen is such a monumental milestone.”

The project is funded by the World Bank through the Climate Resilient and Sustainable Agriculture Project. It is being carried out in collaboration with the Belize Social Investment Fund, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Economic Transformation.

Agriculture CEO Servulo Baeza explained how the Chan Chen corral fits into the Government’s plans for the livestock sector and what producers can expect next.

Arden Edwards, Chairman, BLPA: “One of the requirements from SENASICA is that if we want cattle to be exported live on the hoof to Mexico, there must be an inspection corral within seven miles of the Mexican border. They have located the land. They have cleared the land. The contract is in process. And today, 18 days into construction, the land is filled with over 2,800 loads of materials. A well was dug. We have a water system. We have the workplace set up. And we are waiting for you guys to get out of here quickly for a machine to come in.”

While the new corral is expected to improve cattle handling and export readiness, producers will still need reliable access to buyers. How well the facility meets their needs will be key to its impact on the industry.