Powers of the Corporation

The Corporation may, with the consent of the Minister, (a) identify markets locally, regionally and internationally for local agricultural products including shrimp and fish; (b) link buyer, sellers, producers and processors of agricultural commodities for both local and export markets; (c) conduct market research for specific requirements of domestic and foreign markets and disseminate such information across the relevant regions and territories; (d) provide training for farmers, exporters, agro- processors and other traders for greater Belize Marketing and Development Corporation 9 efficiency in the marketing of their commodities; (e) collect daily prices for agricultural commodities and fish traded under the Ministry of Agriculture’s community trade information service; (f) facilitate agricultural-export insurance and financing; (g) assist in the management of wholesale markets for agricultural produce and fish; (h) facilitate consulting services in the area of marketing, business planning, feasibility studies, export development and agro- industrial projects; (i) organize participation in trade fairs and exhibitions with a view of promoting the marketing of agricultural commodities; (j) provide storage facilities for lease to the private sector; (k) develop and ensure grading standards of agricultural produce; (l) operate mills and similar plants for preparing and for processing any product of Belize; (m) trade and deal in feeding stuffs for livestock, seeds, fertilizers and insecticides and such other commodities that may facilitate the operations of producers and food processors; Belize Marketing and 10 Development Corporation (n) establish depots and agencies for the purchase, sale and delivery of products of Belize and such other commodities as may facilitate the operations of producers and food processors; (o) enter into contracts for the purchase, sale and transport of products of Belize and of agricultural equipment and farm commodities; (p) act as commission agents for the disposal of the products of any producer or processor; (q) act as commission agents for the purchase of supplies for any producer or processor; (r) deal in commodities other than products of Belize, where it is necessary for maintaining supplies; (s) insure the property of the Corporation against insurable risk; and (t) invest, with the approval of the Minister, any moneys forming part of a reserve fund.