National food security: Government’s Strategic Plan towards self-sufficiency

Agriculture plays an important role in the national economy. The Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security has developed its new strategy (for 2016-2020) to improve the country’s self-sufficiency in terms of agricultural production. Last week, the Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security released its Strategic Plan 2016-2020 for the food crop, live stock and forestry sectors. Minister Mahen Seeruttun presented the goals and objectives to be attained over the next five years to improve food security and food safety while promoting sustainable agricultural practices. Most countries face a growing challenge of ensuring access to nutritious food at affordable costs for the population. The Minister’s two main objectives are to increase the production of high quality strategic crops, vegetables and meat to satisfy local demand and promote the development of agri-business sector to enhance import substitution in order to reduce dependency on imports. In his own words, the strategic plan proposes “an integrated development to build vibrant non-sugar agriculture and agri-business sectors that utilise natural resources sustainably, contribute significantly to national food security and safety, empower producers to higher productivity, and enhance the welfare of the farming community.” Mahen Seeruttun thus announced that incentives will be given to farmers especially the youth and women, to encourage them to engage in agri-business activities.

Measures proposed

In line with the government’s announced economic vision, the promotion of bio-food, bio-farming including permaculture and other variants are on the agenda. This would require a drastic change in farmers’ mindset regarding agrochemicals. The following measures are proposed:

Sensitisation of the public on the importance of consuming bio-food, and valuing the difference;
Development of bio-production protocols;
Establishment of dedicated bio-farming zones, and the relevant conditions to be imposed on land use and crop management;
Training of farmers in production of bio-food production;
Introduction of a bio-farming certificate /label to encourage bio-food production.

Non-sugar crops

The non-sugar crops sub-sector covers foodcrops, fruits and ornamentals and is driven mainly by 8,000 small growers and 375 hydroponic producers. Close to 100% self-sufficiency is achieved for fresh vegetables and tropical fruits, except for off-season imports of selected vegetables such as potato, onion and garlic. For foodcrop production, the shift towards bio-farming will ensure the production of safe and quality food, with standards and norms defined.

Incentives will encourage the adoption of sustainable practices; clustering of farms; exploitation of abandoned land; agri-business ventures in processing food for local and export market; cross border investment;
R&D in new technologies to increase land productivity and sustainable production and ensure food and nutrition security; biotechnology and biological inputs in production systems; tools to address labour shortage, improve post-harvest life and minimise food wastage; addressing climate change mitigation and adaptation;
Technology exchange, capacity building and effective information and communication management; support to agro-entrepreneurs through training to identify potential agri-business and its feasibility; educating farmers about climate change and coping strategies;
Strengthening of marketing and market information services to the farming community;
Promotion of value chain approach, with participation of private sector and governance by public body;
Capacity building for adaptation to climate change.

Tea plantations:

Fresh tea plantations will be supported through release of State lands, nursery space for plantlets, and extension support to growers.
A contract-growing scheme will connect growers, processors and promoters.

Production of flowers and ornamentals:

Demand is growing for cut roses, anthurium, gerbera, chrysanthemum and gladiolus.

Growers will be encouraged to start production on abandoned sugarcane lands, with facilities to set up nurseries, greenhouses and shadehouses, and for the purchase of tissue-cultured plantlets.

Fruit Production:

(Pineapple, banana, papaya, passion-fruit and the seasonal litchi and mango) In support of fruit production: The anti-bird net scheme will be maintained to prevent fruit damage by bats and birds;

Fiscal incentives will promote the export of fresh litchi to non-traditional and emerging markets (Dubai, East Europe, Russia, China, India); and
Growers who are adopting self-assessment guides will be assisted to upgrade their production System for Global GAP certification.
Fruit production base will be diversified with encouragement to produce pitaya, breadfruit, emerging fruits (Lemon, Avocado, Longan and Atemoya) and those under-utilised and lesser-known local fruit species.
Set up of a National Wholesale Market to improve market efficiency and ensure better transparency. The National Wholesale Market will be managed by AMB.
An Agro-processing Park will be set up with the required facilities (buildings, equipment, mentoring, advisory services, financial services).

Livestock

Livestock breeding has made little progress in recent years, mainly because of high costs of production, limited access to land and breeding animals, lack of an organised market structure, and difficulties to comply with environmental regulations. Emerging issues relate to competition from cheap imports, high cost of quality inputs and the increasing consumer concern over food safety and animal welfare. Nevertheless, production levels for poultry, goat, mutton, pork and rabbit reflect a satisfactory measure of self-sufficiency. The high start-up cost can be a deterrent.

Raising of small stock (duck, turkey, rabbit...) will be encouraged.
Support services will be brought together for research, extension, training and veterinary health care. Para-veterinary services will be introduced and farmers will be trained in basic veterinary care and first-aid for livestock.
Access to feed, fodder and breeding animals will be facilitated, and additional livestock zones set up for farmers operating in clusters.
For marketing, a new slaughterhouse will be set up.
A Trade and Marketing Bureau will encourage farmers to choose formal marketing channels
For local stock, a match-making service will be run by FAREI to link sellers to buyers and save productive animals from slaughter.
A Livestock Fair will be organised annually.
Eco-friendly approaches and safety measures will be enforced by a ‘Police Agricole’, and a programme for certification introduced.
A package will be developed to advance bio-farming, complete with local standards, incentives for producers and education of consumers over the merits of bio-products.

Forestry

Forests are invaluable assets harbouring a rich biodiversity, and they protect our watersheds and environmentally sensitive areas. They need to be protected from degradation, conserved and further enhanced.

Encourage the increase of tree cover, and favour non-consumptive uses and those activities that are sustainable, less destructive and more rewarding in the long term.
A tree planting programme is scheduled to increase tree cover throughout the island
Existing legislation and policies will be reviewed to increase tree and forest protection
Special care will be taken of environmentally-sensitive areas such as watershed and steep slopes
Biodiversity and ecosystem services will be enhanced
The general public will be educated on the importance and value of the trees and forests.

Biodiversity

A comprehensive programme will be implemented to control the invasive alien species
A revised National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) will be prepared for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use
Agro-biodiversity can support the drive for bio-farming and food security
Adequate resources will be devoted to advance on-going conservation efforts for both plant and livestock genetic resources.