Hon. Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise, attended a special ceremony to commemorate the launch of the revival of the Rice Production Program in Toledo on March 25, 2021, at the Rice Mill in Big Falls Village.
The revitalization of the industry will ensure that the agriculture sector in the Toledo District and the country is developed for income generation, the improvement of farms and the livelihoods of families.
After the ceremony, farmers were engaged in open discussions focused on varieties of seeds to be planted, quality and payment, and the technical collaboration that will be provided to the farmers by the Ministry of Agriculture.
Minister Mai was joined by Hon. Oscar Requeña, Minister of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labour and Local Government and area representative for Toledo West; Hon. Michael Espat, Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment and area representative for Toledo East; and Mr. Valentino Shal, Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labour and Local Government. 
Other personnel present included rice farmers, officers from the Belize Marketing and Development Cooperation, technical officers from the Ministry of Agriculture, chairpersons of the villages, and the president and vice-president of the Toledo Alcalde Association.
Other personnel present included rice farmers, officers from the Belize Marketing and Development Cooperation, technical officers from the Ministry of Agriculture, chairpersons of the villages, and the president and vice-president of the Toledo Alcalde Association.
