Belize, the second smallest state of America (22,695 km²) borders to the north on Mexico, to the east and south on Guatemala. Belize, apart from the northern part of the country, lies in the tropics and is exposed to the northeast trade winds bringing high humidity the whole year around. The rainy season (May to November) and the dry season over the rest of the year are clearly defined. The mean annual precipitation in Belize City amounts to 1890 mm and is distinctly higher in the south. The monthly mean air temperature here in the coldest month (January) is 24.1°C and in the warmest (August) is 28.8°C. It is estimated that approx. one third of the land is suitable for agriculture although in 1985 only 101,000 hectares were stated as being agricultural land.
The total population of Belize is estimated today to be approx. 200,000. The demography of Belize shows the following characteristics:
This ethnic cross-section has a considerable influence on the agricultural sector.
The economy of Belize is marked by high dependence on imports and a small domestic market. Amongst other things, this results in high sensitivity to fluctuations in the world economy and in a trade deficit of approx. 50 million US$ annually. Due to low industrial production which only makes a 20% contribution to the national income (including the agroindustry), agriculture remains the most important economic factor in Belize. It makes a contribution of 21% to the GDP at factor cost (1986). In 1984 this included approx. 32.1% of the workforce.
Until the 20th century agriculture was dominated - as the national economy of Belize also was - by forestry which had a sustainable effect on the structure of agriculture. The cultivation of sugar cane (followed by citrus fruits) has been able to develop into the most important source of foreign currency in recent decades due to special agreements with Great Britain yet stable commercial structures have only been able to establish themselves beside this export sector to a limited extent in the agricultural sector. Smallholders (Milpa farmers) with only a weak capital background and low market integration represent three quarters of agricultural producers. In 1971, 74.6% of farms had less than 21 acres. With slash and burn methods they clear the land for the cultivation of rice, maize, beans, fruits and vegetables as the main produce but also some animal husbandry, chiefly pig production is carried out.