Africa-Press – Mauritius. Government will continue to fully support organic farming projects in line with the Sustainable Development Goals, and encourage planters to turn to sustainable agriculture with the key objective to make the country become auto-sufficient in terms of local production, said the Attorney-General, Minister of Agro-Industry and Food Security, Mr Maneesh Gobin.
He was speaking at the launch of phase three of ‘Expansion in organic marshes with construction of an Indian Ocean Regional Expertise’ (EMBEROI) training by Le Velo Vert, held, yesterday at the Domaine du Cerf d’Or in Chamouny.
The Ambassador of the European Union, Mr Vincent Degert; the Founder of Le Velo Vert, Mrs Géraldine d’Unienville; the President of Le Velo Vert, Mr Bruno Durbarry; and other personalities were present.
The Minister lauded the Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) and its partners for adopting an ecological farming approach. He encouraged other organisations and farmers to opt for ecological farming which according to him will contribute to the development of the local agricultural sector in a sustainable manner.
He also spoke on the Macchabée-Bel Ombre area in the South-West of Mauritius which has been recognised as a Biosphere Reserve under United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s Man and the Biosphere Programme.
He expressed the wish for more collaboration with Le Velo Vert to further expand the reserve as it responds to the need for sustainable development. As for Ambassador Degert, he underlined that ecological farming helps face the challenges of climate change.
He dwelt on the numerous advantages of bio products including less use of pesticides, environment friendly and better quality of food crops. He made an appeal to the youth to launch themselves in sustainable agriculture thereby making the country less reliable on the importation of food and become more resilient.
For his part, Mr Durbarry lauded the support initiatives put forth by Government adding that several measures has been provided in Budget 2022-2023 to boost local production.
He indicated that the setting up of similar organisations like the Le Velo Vert will not only support sustainable agriculture but will also generate finance, create employment and contribute to the good health of citizens.
Le Velo Vert Le Velo Vert has been operational since 2012 through a series of activities and micro projects aimed at sensitising the youth, farmers and other NGOs on the importance of sustainable and organic agriculture.
Le Velo Vert set up the EMBEROI training to provide farmers with technical support and good practices. The organisation encourages market gardening without chemicals and ensures the distribution of the entire harvest of vegetables and fruits grown according to the strict organic quality charter of the label Le Velo Vert.
EMBEROI is a cooperation project in the field of sustainable agriculture which aims to establish the conditions for the feasibility and large-scale implementation of a collective approach to sustainable production and consumption of fruit, vegetables and aromatic and medicinal plants in the small States and island territories of the southwestern Indian Ocean.
For More News And Analysis About Mauritius Follow Africa-Press
