Behavioral bottlenecks in Belizean smallholder farming

During a summer internship with the Ministry of Agriculture in Dangriga, Belize, I worked on economic development for smallholder farmers. One citrus farmer stood out: he was witty, enjoyed dancing, and carried a warm smile.

I suggested that he could use his phone to look up farming techniques. He told me that he was scared and did not know how to use it. I offered to show him. That conversation challenged my assumption that access to information was the main barrier. He already had the technology, but using it still felt out of reach.

The encounter helped shape my interest in scaffolding: how can information systems help people learn to use what they can already access? It also reminded me to question my own assumptions about what someone needs before proposing a solution.

I developed a 17-page bilingual Farm Plan Outline combining goal setting, business planning, and locally relevant farming considerations. I also assisted farmers with applications to the Sustainable & Inclusive Belize Program, which offered an 85% subsidy.

The 2024 fieldwork became my economics honors thesis, advised by Dr. Amy Farmer. It examines digital-literacy, knowledge, and psychological barriers and recommends workshops connected to existing subsidy programs.