A colloquium on evolution of agriculture in Mauritius

A colloquium focusing on the evolution of agriculture in Mauritius was held this week at the Rajiv Gandhi Science Centre in Bell Village in the presence of the Minister of Agro-Industry and Food Security, Mr Mahen Seeruttun. The colloquium, an initiative of the Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security, is organised in the context of celebrations marking World Food Day 2017. The themes elaborated are namely: the role of the Faculty of agriculture in meeting the needs of the agricultural sector; research and development on sugarcane for a sustainable industry; programme régional de sécurité alimentaire et nutritionelle 2017-2022; and the challenges and opportunities of the Mauritian Cane Industry.

In his address, Minister Seeruttun outlined that the sugarcane crop has played a prominent position in the Mauritian economy over the years since its introduction by the Dutch in the seventeenth century. Government, he underlined has made constant efforts to improve and maintain the economic viability of this industry. Its main goal is that the sugarcane industry produces at least 400 000 tons of sugar annually. He further pointed out that that the sugarcane industry is not solely concerned with the production of sugar but also contributes to the country’s economy, namely in the energy and environmental sectors with the production of bagasse and ethanol.

He reiterated that Government is providing several incentives to urge planters adopt organic farming with a view to decrease reliance on chemical inputs and improve the quality of local food production. The increased use of pesticides and insecticides causes harmful impacts on human health and the environment, he pointed out.