Africa-Press – Mauritius. The 61st Annual General Meeting of the Mauritius Cooperative Agricultural Federation Ltd (MCAF) opened, this afternoon, in presence of the Minister of Industrial Development, SMEs and Cooperatives, Mr Soomilduth Bholah, the Attorney-General and Minister of Agro-Industry and Food Security, Mr Maneesh Gobin, and the Chairman of the MCAF, Mr Shrudanand Sheoraj, at the Rajiv Gandhi Science Centre in Bell Village.
In his address, Minister Bholah reiterated Government’s support for the MCFA, which he said, is doing a remarkable job in the sugarcane sector as proven by its performance over the years in terms of production and development.
“Out of 1,200 cooperative societies, the MCFA is a model which needs to be replicated among cooperators”, he stated.
The acquisition of the second mechanical sugarcane harvester, he indicated, demonstrates the determination of the MCFA to cope with new technologies and increase their yield production.
Minister Bholah underlined the importance of knowledge and expertise adding that sugarcane planters should be encouraged to acquire new skills through training so that they are able to produce more.
For his part, the Agro-Industry Minister lauded the MCFA for their financial performance which signifies an encouraging recovery for the sugarcane sector.
He recalled that the MCFA and Rose Belle Sugar Estate have embarked on a pilot project for a lease of 100 arpents adding that such projects should be highly encouraged.
Moreover, the Minister indicated that a Framework Agreement will be signed with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research with a view to promote training among planters and highlighted that the MCAF will be an important stakeholder in this endeavour.
As for Mr Sheoraj, he urged the planters to opt for bio-fertilisers for cane and non-sugarcane sectors for better productivity and yield. He dwelt on the various achievements of the MCFA adding that many facilities are being put at the disposal of planters to encourage development and progress in the sugarcane sector.
The MCAF was registered as a secondary Co-operative Society in August 1950. It acts as the mouthpiece of the planting community grouped in co-operatives and therefore is represented on the boards and committees of several institutions which are closely associated with the sugar industry.
For More News And Analysis About Mauritius Follow Africa-Press
