CSA-Prioritization Framework This document is part of a Climate-Smart Agriculture in Belize: set of three complementary documents that focus on Identifying Investment Priorities the prospects for climate smart agriculture (CSA) in Belize: Belize Climate-Smart Agriculture Country Profile [1], Belize Climate Smart Agriculture Prioritization Framework [2], and Financing Strategies for Climate Smart Agriculture in Belize [3]. The three documents describe the opportunities and challenges associated with CSA in Belize, identify a set of “best bet” practices that based on preliminary analysis appear to have great promise, and discuss opportunities for mobilizing the resources that will be needed to finance CSA investments. Photo: MoA, Research Unit Key Messages Similar to many low-lying coastal nations, Belize is vulnerable A multi-phase participatory exercise carried out using the to the effects of climate change. Over time, these effects prioritization framework led to the identification of a set of are likely to include increased variability in the amount and promising CSA practices and technologies. These include seasonal distribution of rainfall, increased frequency and cover structures, drip irrigation systems, water harvesting, intensity of tropical storms, rising sea levels, and increased adjustment of planting dates, crop rotation, intercropping, temperature and droughts. All of these will directly affect conservation tillage, use of improved planting material, agricultural production systems, fisheries ecosystems, and and improved livestock breeds, pasture improvement, other economic sectors. production of hay and silage, and introduction of agroforestry systems. The vulnerability of Belize’s agricultural sector to climate change highlights the importance of promoting the Adoption of CSA practices has been slowed in Belize by adoption of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices. CSA multiple barriers, including lack of information about practices enable farmers to increase productivity and promising CSA practices, lack of technical knowledge on production sustainably. At the same time, CSA practices the part of farmers, lack of resources to finance initial increase farmers’ capacity to contribute to climate change investment costs, and lack of affordable credit and crop adaptation and mitigation. insurance, among others. This document presents a multi-criteria framework for The government can strengthen incentives to adopt identifying and prioritizing CSA practices for Belize. The CSA practices. The Maximizing Finance for Development prioritization framework can help policymakers target approach provides a useful framework for identifying scarce CSA investment resources more effectively. measures needed to leverage private financing, as well as areas in which public investment will be needed. Climatic hazards in Belize Climate change and climate variability could result in a decrease in precipitation throughout the country, ranging from 6.9% in the northern zone to 10% in the Belize has a population of approximately 387,800, about southern zone. The most detrimental effect is likely 55% of whom reside in rural areas [4]. The relatively to come from increased variability in the seasonal stable year-round subtropical climate with adequate distribution of rainfall, resulting in greater frequency of rainfall has contributed to a thriving agricultural and droughts, floods, and landslides triggered by extreme agribusiness sector, which contributes 15% of GDP [5]. precipitation. Temperatures are projected to change as well; annual mean temperature is likely to rise 1.3 °C by Belize’s agricultural policy has used market-led strategies the 2030s and 1.7–1.8 °C by the 2050s in all districts [8]. in pursuing as its main goals product diversification and food self-sufficiency. Notable achievements include Over the past few years, extreme weather events have the improvement of production systems for traditional intensified worldwide, causing repercussions in the form export crops such as sugar and citrus, development of economic losses. Central American countries have of new export crops such as Habanero peppers, and been among the most affected by climatic events [7]. expansion of the food crop and livestock subsectors. These events can severely impact the agricultural sector Production of vegetables for the domestic market has and cause losses all along the value chain-in the provision increased, reducing the need for imports [6]. Meanwhile, of inputs, at the farm level, and in postharvest stages agricultural exports increased to US$ 229 million [4]. [8]. In Belize, during the first quarter of 2018, excessive rain and subsequent flooding affected more than 2,510 Belize’s ecosystems featuring highly biodiverse tropical acres of vegetables, corn, beans, and plantain, resulting rainforests and coral reefs are very susceptible to natural in losses to the agricultural sector amounting to US$ 1.9 disasters. As the country has 386 km of coastline, large million [9]. areas are located very close to sea level. Coastal areas and small islands are vulnerable to natural disasters such The value of agricultural production exposed to climate as tropical storms, hurricanes, and floods. Furthermore, risks in Belize is significant. At any given time, up to US$ farmland in the coastal plains is vulnerable to salinity as 1.25 million of agricultural production is exposed to risk a result of sea-level rise and floods [7]. of floods, and up to US$ 520,000 is exposed to risk of drought (Figure 1). A B C Figure 1. (A) economic exposure to floods (US$); (B) economic exposure to droughts (US$); (C) risk for multiple hazards (tropical cyclones, floods, and landslides). 2 Why and how can we prioritize CSA-PF in Belize actions? The objective of this document is to contribute to CSA planning in Belize by describing the CSA Prioritization Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) has the potential to Framework methodology and presenting the results deliver “triple wins” by contributing to multiple objectives: of an initial effort to implement the CSA Prioritization (1) sustainably increasing productivity and food security, Framework. (2) enhancing farmers’ resilience capacity (adaptation), and (3) reducing or removing greenhouse gas emissions Promising CSA practices relevant to the production (mitigation). The context-specific nature of CSA points systems considered critical for national food security were to the need to ground efforts to promote CSA in holistic classified and evaluated. The practices were classified food system analysis, integrating landscape, ecosystem, into three categories based on their implementation cost and value chain approaches. Incentives to adopt CSA and the level of effort required from private and public practices usually are influenced by a combination of perspectives for their adoption (low cost, medium cost, economic, sociocultural, environmental, and political high cost). considerations, meaning that governance arrangements, institutional structures, and financing mechanisms must As part of the prioritization exercise, economic criteria be well aligned to ensure that desired outcomes can were identified that policymakers will often want to be achieved efficiently, taking into account the goals of consider in deciding which CSA practices to promote. multiple stakeholders [10, 11]. These economic criteria include capital investment cost, operation and maintenance cost, net present value (NPV), The Government of Belize (GOB), through the Ministry internal rate of return (IRR), payback period (PBP), and of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, the Environment, positive externalities (carbon capture and biodiversity). Sustainable Development and Immigration (MAFFESDI) with funding from the World Bank, in partnership with In addition to the economic criteria, mechanisms were the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) explored that could be used to facilitate large-scale uptake and the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, of CSA practices, integrating technical, sociocultural, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), has taken on environmental, and political perspectives to identify the challenge of developing the Belize Climate-Smart barriers and opportunities, taking into account potential Agriculture Prioritization Framework (CSA-PF). This multi- impacts of the practices on productivity, adaptation, and criteria decision-support framework provides a process mitigation. that can be used to direct investments toward promising CSA options by identifying and prioritizing existing and The results of this initial effort to apply the CSA potential CSA practices and technologies, assessing Prioritization Framework must be considered indicative, trade-offs and synergies among them, calculating costs since they reflect in part the subjective judgments made and benefits associated with their uptake, and identifying by a particular group of stakeholders, but they illustrate barriers to and opportunities for adoption [12]. It is the type of information needed and the nature of the hoped that the CSA-PF will help to improve national CSA criteria that must be taken into account to identify planning and allow more effective targeting of climate promising CSA practices and prioritize among them. change and agricultural investments by facilitating the design of context-specific portfolios of CSA practices [13]. It is hoped that the Belize CSA Prioritization Framework will serve as an example that will be useful for policymakers, The Belize CSA Prioritization Framework was tested program administrators, development agencies, and using a participatory process that elicited experiences private firms, including finance organizations, as they from national actors through workshops, interviews, think about building CSA programs and identify instances surveys, and focus group discussions (FGDs). In addition, where conditions are favorable for promoting large-scale a comprehensive literature review was carried out to adoption of CSA practices, as well as instances where ensure alignment with countrywide sectoral initiatives, conditions are not as favorable and where attention is stakeholders’ criteria, and Belizean realities. Using needed to adjust government policies and/or institutional this diverse set of inputs, a long list of CSA agricultural arrangements [14]. practices was identified as having potential for Belize. With the help of the CSA Prioritization Framework, the long list was then filtered down to a short list of promising CSA practices and technologies. 3 Application of the CSA-PF in Belize Toward adoption and scaling up preparation, irrigation, weeding, and harvesting, but they also figure prominently in the production of chemical of CSA practices and portfolios fertilizers and pesticides, irrigation equipment, and packaging materials. A farmer’s decision whether or not to adopt a particular CSA practice is influenced by many factors. These factors In Belize, from 2011 to 2015, the use of chemical include but are not limited to the farmer’s awareness fertilizers and pesticides averaged 231 kg/ha and 8.2 kg/ of the practice, the amount and quality of information ha, respectively, much higher than the Latin American about the practice at the farmer’s disposal, the financial and Caribbean averages of 101 kg/ha and 0.7 kg/ha [5]. incentives to adopt, the farmer’s time preference This suggests that public policies in Belize promoting and appetite for risk, and the farmer’s environmental the use of fertilizer and pesticides may have been consciousness, among others. An understanding of encouraging very high GHG emissions from agriculture, these elements plays a vital role in the process of CSA contributing to climate change and possibly threatening portfolio adoption and dissemination [15, 16]. the sustainability of the food system. Looking beyond the farm, an important matter that Many crop and livestock farmers in Belize are already policymakers will want to consider is the amount of implementing CSA practices to some extent (Figure 2) cooperation required among stakeholders at the local [8]. Still, more widespread adoption of CSA practices has and national level to ensure successful adoption. In many been hindered by a number of factors, including lack cases, the success of CSA initiatives depends on the of information and technical knowledge, land tenure commitment of collaborating organizations to contribute insecurity, deficiencies in physical infrastructure, and their competences and experiences [17]. Building and economic constraints, especially the lack of financial successfully promoting adoption of CSA practices and resources to pay initial investment costs. portfolios often requires close coordination between public policies and CSA interventions at different Policymakers and program administrators in Belize have geographic scales, since public policies influence the begun to pay more attention to promoting information technical, economic, and social mechanisms needed to flows, raising environmental consciousness, and helping ensure that CSA portfolios of practices, technologies, farmers manage risk. There is still room, however, to and financial and credit services can be introduced and better understand farmers’ perceptions and attitudes as scaled up in a sustainable way [18]. these relate to CSA practices. To see the importance of close coordination between The promising CSA practices that were identified for public policies and CSA initiatives, it is worthwhile to Belize have the potential to deliver various types of consider an example. In conventional food systems, benefits, such as reduced management costs, reduced almost all stages in the value chain are highly dependent use of purchased inputs, increased productivity, and on oil and other fossil fuels. At the farm level, fossil in some instances production of additional products fuels not only power many operations including land through diversification (e.g., through intercropping Figure 2. Production systems + CSA practices + acronyms. 6 or agroforestry systems) [19]. At the same time, implementing CSA practices frequently entails additional costs for farmers compared to business-as-usual (BAU) practices. As discussed below, these costs range from low to high. Low-cost practices Many farmers in Belize have taken up low-cost CSA practices that generate incremental benefits compared with the BAU scenario. Low-cost CSA practices that have been used for quite some time in Belize include crop rotation of corn and beans (Be-CR) and plant density management to achieve higher yields (Be-APD). For these two CSA practices, investment costs and operation and maintenance costs come to about US$ 225 and US$ 259 per acre per year, respectively. Many farmers have been taking on these relatively low costs themselves, which is made easier by the short payback period of 1 year on average. The investments are attractive, generating a positive net present value (NPV) of US$ 618. When farmers implement these particular CSA practices in isolation, the benefits accrue mainly to the farmers themselves, as few externalities are generated (e.g., increased biodiversity or enhanced carbon sequestration). But when many farmers implement these practices, the externalities can be significant, increasing the payoffs to society of the farmers’ investments (Figure 3). Investments for low-cost CSA practices are similar to investments made for conventional practices. Therefore, many CSA practices can be adopted easily, resulting in significant benefits. Practices such as crop rotation and plant density management lead to short- to long- term gains in productivity (increasing yield as a result of enhanced soil health and fertility), and allow farmers to reduce their use of purchased inputs, thus lowering production costs and increasing net income. With respect to climate change adaptation, these practices promote efficient use of water and nutrient cycling, potentially increasing soil fertility and reducing soil erosion. With respect to climate change mitigation, these practices reduce the use of nitrogen-based fertilizer when leguminous crops such as beans are introduced, thus reducing related GHG emissions per unit of output. They also help maintain or improve soil carbon stocks and soil organic matter (Figure 4). Despite the known benefits, in many cases adoption of low-cost CSA practices is hampered by factors not directly related to the profitability of those practices, for example, farmers’ lack of technical knowledge, their inability to mobilize the additional labor required to carry out timely rotations, and the challenges associated with marketing surplus production. This points to the need to Figure 3. Cost-benefit analysis (CBA) of CSA practices. The graph is shown strengthen extension and education programs, support in logarithmic scale. 7 labor markets, and launch initiatives to better link farmers Adoption of CSA practices depends on farmers being to markets. aware that the practices exist and well informed about how to implement them. This suggests that adoption of Technology that allows farmers to more easily access CSA practices depends on farmers having timely access market information (e.g., mobile phones, internet to tailored and credible technical information on CSA terminals) can enhance the value of CSA practices. To practices and portfolios. MoA, working in collaboration the extent that farmers’ use of such technology can be with NGOs and international development agencies, has increased through collaboration among public agencies, made positive strides in this direction by building the private firms, NGOs, and farmers themselves, the uptake capacity of its extension officers in the use of different of CSA practices can often be accelerated. extension methodologies [20]. Medium-cost practices High-cost practices Some farmers in Belize have adopted medium-cost A third set of promising CSA practices identified through CSA practices. For example, rearing of Brangus cattle the recent prioritization exercise can be characterized (a hybrid breed well suited for meat production) on as high-cost. High-cost CSA practices present special improved pastures (Ca-UIB) requires an initial investment challenges due to the high initial investment costs and of US$ 1,852.50 and operating and maintenance costs the long payback period. Despite the high cost, a few of US$ 375 per year. The investment, while quite farmers in Belize have adopted these practices. For substantial, generates attractive returns: the NPV is example, the use of a cover structure (bubble house of estimated at US$ 3,646, with an expected IRR of 52%. 560 ft²) in vegetable production (Ve-CS) requires an initial Despite the expected profitability of this practice, as well investment of US$ 1,555 and results in operating and as others in this cost range, the significant investment maintenance costs of US$ 387 per year. Nevertheless, if cost and relatively long payback period of 3–6 years farmers can mobilize the resources needed to implement pose formidable barriers for many livestock producers. the practice, the investment will generate an attractive Many livestock producers in Belize face cash constraints return, as reflected in an estimated NPV of US$ 6,266.50, and have no means of accessing credit. In addition, indicating that the investment is very attractive. investment in livestock is considered risky. Successful adoption of high-cost CSA practices is much The barriers that have discouraged adoption of medium- more likely when key enabling factors are present. cost CSA practices in Belize often can be overcome by Awareness programs can ensure that farmers know increasing the availability and affordability of credit about the practices and recognize their potential benefits. and by improving access to purchased inputs. The Materials and equipment needed to implement the CSA specific challenges and risks faced by farmers need to practices must be available in local markets, along with be systematically analyzed, however, and interventions advisory services that can deliver technical guidance designed that fit local circumstances. With respect to regarding their proper use. Since few farmers will be credit, financial instruments may need to be made more able to afford the high initial investment costs from their flexible in timing, amounts disbursed, and repayment own resources, access to financing will usually be critical, schedules. For purchased inputs, the government may and even then farmers’ own resources may have to be be able to reduce the cost to the farmer by facilitating supplemented with public investments. Finally, the policy imports, improving infrastructure (ports, handling and regulatory environments must be such that farmers facilities, roads), and reducing the regulatory burden on have incentives to invest in high-cost CSA practices [21]. distributors. Promising high-cost CSA practices identified through Another set of medium-cost CSA practices identified the recent prioritization exercise include construction of during the recent prioritization exercise consists of cover structures, planting native tree species for shade forestry and agroforestry practices. Planting of semi- and timber, and integrating fruit trees into conventional permanent and woody species presents opportunities production systems. These practices have the potential for carbon capture and biodiversity conservation (Figure to generate attractive returns for farmers, but they will 4). Under a scenario in which the country has the not necessarily generate large externalities in the form financial resources and institutional systems needed of adaptation and mitigation benefits unless adoption to provide compensation for these benefits, so-called takes place at sufficiently large scale. If large numbers of payment for ecosystem services (PES) schemes would farmers were to adopt, however, landscape-level impacts be an interesting alternative to explore for generating would include significant climate change adaptation and additional income for farmers. mitigation benefits. For example, planting native tree 8 species and integrating fruit trees into conventional production systems, if done on a sufficiently large scale, would not only increase and stabilize farmers’ incomes by enabling them to diversify their mix of products, but it would also generate significant ecosystem services in terms of biodiversity enhancement, soil and water conservation, and reduced GHG emissions. Most farmers will need help to finance the high initial investment costs and long payback period associated with high-cost CSA practices. In the case of CSA practices that generate significant environmental externalities, those resources could come at least partly through payment-for-environmental-services (PES) programs. The policy and regulatory environment would also have to favor investments in high-cost CSA practices. For example, given the long payback period associated with investments in trees, land tenure security will be vital [16]. As pointed out earlier, adoption of CSA practices is influenced by a wide range of factors. Some of these are directly linked to government policies, whereas others relate to farmers’ own decisions but can potentially be influenced by policy. The degree to which policymakers consider the various factors and are able to address them when formulating policies and programs will critically influence the uptake of CSA practices [22]. The National Adaptation Strategy identifies five areas in which public investment has the potential to generate an enabling environment suitable for effectively implementing and scaling up CSA practices: 1. Infrastructure and equipment, 2. Research and training, 3. Education and early warning, 4. Commodity insurance, and 5. Monitoring and documentation [23]. Following from the above, many actions can be taken at Figure 4. Benefits on CSA pillars of CSA practices. national level targeting priority productions systems that would likely accelerate the uptake of the promising CSA practices identified through the prioritization exercise. 9 Entry points for promoting CSA Rural Resilient Belize (RRB), which aims to minimize the impacts of climatic and economic events on smallholder farmers while supporting sustainable It is important that policymakers make informed market access for their produce. decisions when considering whether or not to promote CSA. Recent research has revealed the critical role played MoA can continue to pursue relationships with local by diverse factors in influencing farmers’ decisions NGOs that are working to promote CSA at the local whether or not to adopt CSA practices [16]. By taking level, such as Ya’axché. into account a wide range of technical, economic, and sociocultural factors, the CSA-PF can help identify areas MoA can continue to pursue relationships with in which coordinated action is needed among the many private firms that are investing in CSA practices domestic and international actors working on agriculture, for commercial reasons, such as American Sugar environment, and climate change initiatives. Refinery/Belize Sugar Industries Limited (ASR/BSI). Results of the recent prioritization exercise carried out to test the CSA-PF were used to identify entry points for Momentum of national efforts potential future actions by the government and selected to tackle climate change partners and stakeholders who are active in promoting agricultural development in Belize: What is the government of Belize doing to promote CSA? As a member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Addressing the threats to agriculture posed by climate Belize can participate in regional initiatives to gain change requires a multifaceted approach in which insights into what other countries in the region are national policies and strategies are coordinated with and doing related to climate change. linked to international initiatives. A number of ongoing policies, programs, and initiatives are contributing to this As a member of the Central American Integration effort: System (SICA in Spanish), Belize can seek funding through the Central American Agricultural Council The National Climate Change Policy, Strategy and (CAC) for promoting sustainable agriculture adapted Action Plan to Address Climate Change in Belize to the effects of climate change and climate variability. provides policy guidance for the development of an administrative and legislative framework for building As a member of the Caribbean Agriculture Research resilience to climate change. A key recommendation and Development Institute (CARDI), Belize can access is the adoption of standards and best practices for exchange programs for capacity building. the extraction, production, and distribution of water to strengthen the resilience of freshwater resources. Belize can establish new partnerships with It also highlights, for the agricultural sector, the international agricultural research organizations importance of diversifying livestock systems, and programs such as the International Center for improving access to drought-resistant crops including Tropical Agriculture (CIAT in Spanish) and the CGIAR those used to feed livestock, promoting adoption of Program for Climate Change, Agriculture, and Food improved soil management practices, and providing Security (CCAFS) and jointly identify climate change early warning/meteorological forecasts and related impacts and adaptation options for rural small-scale information. farmers. The National Adaptation Strategy to Address Climate Belize can strengthen existing relationships with Change in the Agricultural Sector (NAS) addresses the regional organization such as IICA, OIRSA, and CARDI, current and projected impacts of climate change on which offer technical advice and capacity building in the agricultural sector in Belize. It further highlights various areas of climate change adaptation. that the implementation of the strategy will require investments in infrastructure and equipment, Belize can strengthen the existing relationship with research and training, education and early warning UNDP, which has supported rural agricultural projects systems, and matching funds for a public/private (Japan Caribbean Climate Change Partnership) to sector partnership commodity insurance scheme. guide small farmers in climate change adaptation. The National Agriculture and Food Policy (NAFP) of Belize can strengthen existing relationships with Belize 2015–2030 outlines several initiatives that IFAD and GCF, which are funding a CSA project, can help to overcome the challenges of climate 10 change, including (i) adopting innovative approaches possible financing sources, and suitable implementing to develop efficient small-farm production systems, entities [23]. which can contribute significantly to rural poverty alleviation and food security; (ii) developing new Significant financing will be needed to implement all the approaches to financing agriculture; (iii) improving actions that have been identified. Of the estimated total the incentive system to attract both local and cost of approximately BZ$ 27 million, the vast majority foreign investment; (iv) simplifying regulations and (97%) is needed for infrastructure and equipment. bureaucratic procedures to reduce the costs of doing business; and (v) investing in support services and basic infrastructure [24]. Financing CSA investments: The National Development Framework for Belize: the Maximizing Finance for Horizon 2030 prioritizes integrating environmental sustainability into development planning, including Development approach planning for climate change impacts. In Belize as elsewhere, current levels of investment in The Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) the agricultural sector are insufficient to achieve national focuses on agriculture, forestry, fisheries and development goals. This is true for agriculture in general aquaculture, coastal and marine resources, and and for CSA in particular. Many of the investments water resources as key areas for adaptation. Some described in the NAS and summarized in Table 1 will strategies mentioned for supporting adaptation in the require significant amounts of financing. This begs the agricultural sector involve promoting improved crop question: What strategies can be followed to mobilize the production technologies, promoting improved soil financing needed to ensure adoption of CSA practices on management practices, diversification into drought- a large scale? resistant crops and livestock, and scaling up the use of efficient low-water irrigation systems. From farm to fork, developing agricultural value chains is predominantly a private sector affair, meaning The Growth and Sustainable Development Strategy agribusiness can and must play a central role in (GSDS) guides overall development for 2015–2018 and advancing the larger agricultural development agenda. contributes to longer-term development objectives. It is therefore both possible and essential to leverage The GSDS calls for the continued mainstreaming private sector resources in pursuing the transformational of climate change considerations into national opportunities offered by agriculture and food systems. development planning and the integration of climate But where are the opportunities to leverage private change resilience into sector development plans. sector resources? The National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy makes The Maximizing Finance for Development (MFD) clear that scope exists to promote CSA practices in a approach being promoted by the World Bank provides a number of policy areas, including: framework that can be used to address this question in a systematic way. The MFD approach seeks to crowd in Land use private resources to help achieve development goals by Water use optimizing the use of scarce public resources to enable Agriculture policy and strategy private sector investment and build inclusive linkages, Disaster risk reduction promote good governance, and ensure environmental Energy and social sustainability, among others. The central Biosafety idea underlying the MFD approach is systematically to Aquaculture [23] discern whether sustainable private sector solutions can substitute for public expenditure and to determine The NAS goes on to identify specific actions that are where the key enabling roles for the public sector are to needed to enhance the resilience of Belize’s agricultural be found. To guide this process, a structured sequence sector in the face of climate change. These actions are of questions can be used to systematically assess entry classified into four main categories: (1) infrastructure points for public-sector interventions (Figure 5) [25]. and equipment, (2) research and training, (3) education, and (4) early warning. Table 1 presents the actions The questions posed at each stage of the MFD cascade identified in the NAS and indicates for each action the are intended to clarify the respective roles of the public time required to produce impacts, the estimated costs, and private sectors in carrying out a given activity. In 11 Table 1. Actions addressed in NAS, their timeline, cost, financing sources, and implementing institutions as enabling actions for CSA portfolio implementation. Adapted from NAS. Short term (S): 1–3 years; medium term (M): 4–6 years; long term (L): >6 years. Actions Timeline Cost annually (US$) Financing sources Implementing Infrastructure and equipment 1. Design and construct drains in sugar belt S 2,000,000 AMS, farmers AMS, farmer In banana belt S 800,000 BAMs, farmers AMS, farmer In citrus belt M 1,000,000 GOB , partners AMS, farmer In Sarawee S 50,000 GOB AMS, farmer 2. Construct and equip laboratory for biological control S 75,000 GOB, association SIRDI, BAHA 3. Construct and equip laboratory for soils and tissue analysis M 125,000 GOB, association CREI 4. Construction of protective cropping structures S 200,000 GOB , farmers Agriculture Department. 5. Road infrastructure: feeder roads M-L 5,000,000 EU and partners Ministry of Works 6. Electrification in banana region for irrigation improvements M 750,000 BAMS BEL, farmers 7. Electrification in sugar region for irrigation improvements M 1,250,000 AMS BEL, farmers 8. Solar-powered irrigation pumps M 1,000,000 AMS, farmers/GOB Farmers 9. Composting plant for banana industry M 125,000 BAMS BGA 10. Composting plant for sugarcane industry L 125,000 AMS Association 11. Composting facilities for 10 small farmer groups S 150,000 FAO and partners Farmer groups 12. Germplasm bank: expansion and upgrade L 75,000 GOB, FAO MoA/CARDI 13. Water harvesting catchment demonstrations L 30,000 Partners Agriculture Department 14. Research equipment for national facility M 100,000 MoA, EU, and UNDP Agriculture Department 15. Agro-met forecasting equipment S 200,000 GOB Meteorology Department 16. Monitoring and documentation system - software and training M_L 20,000 Partners Agriculture Department Subtotal 13,075,000 Research and Training (R&T) 1. T MSc. soil agronomist S 30,000 Partners CREI and MoA 2. T MSc. agric. engineering S 30,000 Partners MoA 3. T MSc. entomology S 30,000 Partners MoA 4. T MSc. pathology S 30,000 Partners MoA 5. T MSc. hydrology S 30,000 Partners Hydrology Dept. 6. T MSc. food processing S 30,000 Partners MoA 7. T in geographic information systems S 15,000 Partners LIC, GOB MoA, producer groups, 8. T in information technology applications S 15,000 Partners associations 9. T Research and statistics (local or agency professionals) M 10,000 Partners CARDI, MoA 10. R&T Climate modelling M 15,000 Partners Meteorology 11. R&T Pest modelling L 15,000 Partners MoA, BAHA 12. T monitoring and documentation M 20,000 GOB MoA/producer groups 13. T composting S 10,000 GOB Producer groups M GOB and farmer 14. Research in biological control 20,000 GOB , SIRDI, CREI,UB On–going associations GOB and farmer 15. R&T in Protective cropping structures S 60,000 GOB , farmers associations Subtotal 360,000 Education and early warning 1. Weather forecasting transmission: texts, e-mail to focal points S 5,000 GOB Meteorology Department 2. Awareness programmes: TV, radio programs -vegetation, S 5,000 GOB Dept. of Environment watershed, wetlands management 3. TV, radio programs - importance of diversity (refuges) S 5,000 GOB BAHA 4. Radio, texts, e-mail pest forecasting L 2,500 GOB MoA, BAHA 5. TV, radio programmes - climate change awareness S 5,000 GOB Climate Change office 6. TV, radio programmes - GMO, LMO S 2,500 GOB MoA, BAHA Subtotal 25,000 12 Belize, the answers to the questions can help to delineate are understood, actual implementation of policy and the scope for policy reforms to shape incentives and regulatory changes and public investments need not be crowd in private sector financing to support needed CSA sequential. In many cases it will make sense to implement investments, as well as to identify areas in which public them simultaneously, but that does not detract from the financing is likely to be needed to produce public goods value of asking the questions sequentially. and services necessary to promote large-scale adoption of CSA practices. Use of the MFD cascade can help identify the actions and activities in which the government and Outlook other development partners can have the largest impact. To apply the MFD approach to CSA, the first step is to CSA practices have potential to deliver “triple wins” for define precisely each CSA practice that is considered a the agricultural sector of Belize by sustainably increasing priority. Once a priority CSA practice has been defined, productivity, enhancing resilience, and reducing or the starting question can be posed: “Is the private sector removing GHGs. Although the concept of CSA is new doing it?” The answers to this starting question and to and still evolving, many of the practices and technologies the subsequent questions in the MFD cascade help to that make up CSA already exist worldwide and are identify areas in which the public and private sectors can currently being used to cope with a range of climate- contribute to investment in the practices, playing different related production risks. Many farmers in Belize are roles. It is important to understand that the answers to already using CSA measures to some degree. However, the questions are often non-binary; a “yes” answer may more widespread adoption of many CSA technologies identify only part of the potential contribution of the has been hindered largely by a lack of information and private sector at that level, and movement to subsequent technical knowledge, and lack of resources to pay for levels may be needed to ensure a complete assessment initial investment costs. In addition, careful planning of all questions around MFD and identification of all is needed to capture synergies and address trade-offs the potential roles of the public and private sectors among the three CSA pillars: productivity, adaptation, in promoting those CSA practices. Once these roles and mitigation. Figure 5. The Maximizing Finance for Development (MFD) approach. 13 Mainstreaming CSA into national policies and programs capital-intensive for farmers to afford implementation. requires a critical mapping of technically effective, This requires institutional dialogue, joint planning of financially profitable, and environmentally sustainable interventions, as well as availability of and access to CSA practices, diagnosis of barriers to adoption and accurate farm data to allow for analysis and further strategies for overcoming those barriers, and the prioritization of interventions and pathways for scale-up. identification of institutional and financial enablers. The Belize CSA-PF is a multi-criteria decision-support It is important that policymakers make informed framework that provides a process that can be used decisions when considering whether or not to promote to direct investments toward promising CSA options by CSA practices. Recent research has revealed the critical identifying and prioritizing existing and potential CSA role played by diverse factors in influencing farmers’ practices and technologies, assessing trade-offs and decisions whether or not to adopt CSA practices. By synergies among them, calculating costs and benefits taking into account a wide range of technical, economic, associated with their uptake, and identifying barriers to and sociocultural factors, the CSA-PF can help identify and opportunities for adoption. areas in which coordinated action is needed among the many domestic and international actors working The Belize CSA-PF was used to identify a set of promising on agricultural, environmental, and climate change CSA practices and technologies using a participatory initiatives. process that elicited experiences from national actors through workshops, interviews, surveys, and focus group The context-specific nature of CSA points to the need discussions. In addition, a comprehensive literature to ground efforts to promote CSA in holistic food review was carried out to ensure alignment with system analysis, integrating landscape, ecosystem, countrywide sectoral initiatives, stakeholders’ criteria, and value chain approaches. Incentives to adopt CSA and Belizean realities. In a two-step process, a long list of practices usually are influenced by a combination of CSA agricultural practices of potential relevance to Belize economic, sociocultural, environmental, and political was identified and then filtered down to a short list of considerations, meaning that governance arrangements, promising CSA practices and technologies. institutional structures, and financing mechanisms must be well aligned to ensure that desired outcomes can In Belize as elsewhere, current levels of investment be achieved efficiently, taking into account the goals of in the agricultural sector are insufficient to achieve multiple stakeholders. national development goals. Many of the promising CSA investments identified and prioritized with the help For more information about climate-smart agriculture in of the CSA-PF—especially those with medium and high Belize and other Latin American countries, visit costs—will require significant amounts of financing. https:// ccafs.cgiar.org/publications/csa-country-profiles. What strategies can be followed to mobilize the financing needed to ensure adoption of CSA practices on a large scale? Agriculture is predominantly a private sector affair, meaning agribusiness can and must play a central role in advancing the larger agricultural development agenda. It is therefore both possible and essential to leverage private sector resources in pursuing the transformational opportunities offered by agriculture and food systems. The Maximizing Finance for Development (MFD) approach provides a framework that can be used to address this question in a systematic way. The MFD approach provides a structured sequence of questions that can be used to systematically assess entry points for public-sector interventions. The questions posed at each stage of the MFD cascade are intended to clarify the respective roles of the public and private sectors in carrying out a given activity. Increased engagement of the private sector in promoting CSA is highly important for in-field adoption of practices, especially where CSA practices and technologies are too 14 Further reading [1] WB (World Bank). 2018a. Belize Climate Smart Agriculture Country Profile. Washington, DC: World Bank. [13] Andrieu, N., Sogoba, B., Zougmored, R., Howland, F., Samake, O., Bonilla-Findji, O., Lizarazo, M., Nowak, [2] WB (World Bank). 2018b. Belize Climate Smart A., Dembele C., and Corner-Dolloff, C. 2017. Prioritizing Agriculture Prioritization Framework. Washington, DC: investments for climate-smart agriculture: Lessons World Bank. learned from Mali. Agricultural Systems 154:13–24. DOI: 10.1016/j.agsy.2017.02.008 [3] WB (World Bank). 2018c. Financing Strategies for Climate Smart Agriculture in Belize. Washington, DC: [14] Wollenberg, E., Zurek, M., and De Pinto, A. 2015. World Bank. Climate readiness indicators for agriculture CCAFS Info Note. Copenhagen, Denmark: CGIAR Research Program [4] The Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB). 2018. Annual on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security Report 2017. Available at: http://sib.org.bz/wp-content/ (CCAFS). uploads/AnnualReport_2017.pdf [15] Farid, K.S., Tanny, N.Z., and Sarma, P.K. 2015. [5] The World Bank. 2016. World Development Factors affecting adoption of improved farm practices by Indicators. Available at: http://databank.worldbank. the farmers of Northern Bangladesh. J. Bangladesh Agric. org/data/reports.aspx?source=world-development- Univ. 13(2):291–298. indicators# [16] Liu, T., Bruins, R., and Heberling, M. 2018. Factors [6] Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF). 2011. Influencing Farmers’ Adoption of Best Management Plan of Action for Disaster Risk Reduction. MAF-FAO. Practices: A Review and Synthesis. Sustainability 10:432. Belmopan, Belize. DOI: 10.3390/su10020432 [7] Ramírez, D. et al. 2013. Belize Effects of Climate [17] UNW-DPV. 2015. Proceedings of the Regional Change on Agriculture. Economic Commission for Latin Workshop on Capacity Development to Support National America and the Caribbean (ECLAC). Available at: http:// Drought Management Policies for Latin America and archivo.cepal.org/pdfs/Mexico/2013/M20130001.pdf the Caribbean Countries UN-Water Decade Programme on Capacity Development (UNW-DPC). Tsegai, D., and [8] CIAT, World Bank. 2018. Climate-Smart Agriculture Ardakanian, R., editors. Proceedings Series No. 14. Bonn, in Belize. CSA Country Profiles for Latin America and Germany. the Caribbean Series. International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT); World Bank, Washington, D.C. 31 p. [18] Andrieu, N., Howland, F., Acosta A.I., Le Coq J.F., Osorio A.M., and Chia, E. 2018. Innovation platform for 9] Revised National Agricilture and Food Policy 2015- small farmers facing climate change. International Center 30. Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, the for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT). Available at: https://ccafs. Environment and Sustainable Development and cgiar.org/blog/innovation-platform-small-farmers-facing- Immigration (MAFFESDI). 2018. Damage Assessment climate-change#.WyfiY1VKhhF 2018. Unpublished report. [19] Echeverría, J. 2018. Benefit-Cost Analysis of Climate [10] CSA 101. 2018. Targeting and prioritization. Available Smart Agricultural Practices in Belize. Report prepared at: https://csa.guide/csa/targeting-and-prioritization for the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT). Cali, Colombia. [11] Scherr, S.J., Shames, S., and Friedman, R. 2012. From climate-smart agriculture to climate-smart landscapes. [20] IICA. 2018. Strengthening Belize National Extension Agriculture & Food Security 1:12. DOI: 10.1186/2048- Service Capacity Building workshop. Available at: https:// 7010-1-12 www.iica.int/en/press/news/strengthening-belize- national-extension-service-capacity-building-workshop [12] Sain, G., Loboguerrero, A.M., Corner-Dolloff, C., Lizarazo, M., Nowak, A., Martínez-Barón, D., and [21] Meyer, R. 2011. Subsidies as an instrument in Andrieu, N. 2017. Costs and benefits of climate-smart agriculture finance: a review. The International Bank agriculture: the case of the dry corridor in Guatemala. for Reconstruction and Development/The World Bank. Agricultural Systems 151:163–173. DOI: 10.1016/j. Washington, DC. 72 p. agsy.2016.05.004 15 [22] Wreford, A., Ignaciuk, A., and Gruère, G. 2017. Immigration (MAFFESDI). 2015. The National Agricultural Overcoming barriers to the adoption of climate-friendly and Food Policy of Belize (2015–2030) Agriculture – practices in agriculture. OECD Food, Agriculture and Bedrock of the Economy. Belmopan, Belize. Available at: Fisheries Papers. No. 101, OECD Publishing, Paris. DOI: http://med.ict.gov.bz/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/ 10.1787/97767de8-en [25] Townsend, R., Ronchi, L., Brett, C., and Moses, [23] CCCCC, NCCO, MNRA, 2014. A National Adaptation G. 2018. Future of Food : Maximizing Finance for Strategy to Address Climate Change in the Agriculture Development in Agricultural Value Chains. World Bank, Sector in Belize. Belmopan, Belize. Washington, DC. [24] Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, the Environment and Sustainable Development and The document was prepared under the co-leadership of Andrew Jarvis (CIAT, CCAFS), Ana María Loboguerrero (CIAT- CCAFS), Miguel Lizarazo (CIAT-CCAFS), Sebastian Grey (CIAT), Armando Martínez (CIAT), and Evan Girvetz (CIAT). Main authors (in alphabetical order): Alfred Serano (independent consultant), Michael Morris (WB), Miguel Lizarazo (CIAT-CCAFS) and, Victoriano Pascual (MAFFESDI) Editors: Bill Hardy (independent editor) and Victoria Rengifo (CIAT) Original graphics: Fernanda Rubiano (independent consultant) Design and layout: Fernanda Rubiano (independent consultant) This document should be cited as: CIAT; World Bank. 2018. Climate-Smart Agriculture in Belize: Identifying Investment Priorities. International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT); World Bank, Washington, D.C. 16 p. Acknowledgments This document has benefited from comments received from Julia Navarro (World Bank). 16