Africa-Press – Mauritius. Les Assises de l’Agriculture, under the theme Pathways to a Sustainable Food System for a Healthier Tomorrow, kicked off, today, in presence of the President of the Republic of Mauritius, Mr Prithvirajsing Roopun, at the Côte d’Or National Sports Complex.
This initiative of the Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security, in collaboration with the Economic Development Board (EDB), is being held from 16 to 20 March 2023 and will be open to the public.
The event comprises a two-day Symposium as well as a five-day exhibition with 197 stands showcasing local agricultural products along with demonstrations of best and sustainable agricultural practices being adopted in Mauritius.
The Attorney General, Minister of Agro-Industry and Food Security, Mr Maneesh Gobin, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the EDB, Mr Ken Poonoosamy, and other personalities, were also present at the opening ceremony.
In his address, President Roopun rejoiced that the event coincides with the celebrations of the Independence Day of Mauritius and highlighted that it also marks the historical journey of our country which has evolved from a monocrop and agriculture-based economy to a stronger and diversified economy.
He identified the sugar and tea industry as important pillars of the Mauritian economy and underlined the crucial need to ensure that the population has access to different types of agricultural products at an affordable price.
“Amid global challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war”, stated the President, “there is an urgency to re-design the food system so as to be sustainable and more resilient to climate change.
” He pointed out that it is also high time to reconsider the country’s high dependency on imports, increase supply of local food production, and streamline supply chain challenges.
Moreover, President Roopun indicated that Les Assises de l’Agriculture will provide an important platform to interact, share knowledge, and forge partnerships to create a more resilient and sustainable agriculture industry.
He also invited the public to visit the exhibition and learn about production techniques, equipment, and value addition of agricultural products. For his part, Minister Gobin reiterated Government’s determination to continue supporting planters and entrepreneurs in view of promoting the agricultural sector in Mauritius.
He called on the population to become more self-sufficient, further engage in backyard gardening and decrease dependency on imports. As regards the symposium, he observed that it will gather both local and international stakeholders, thus providing an opportunity to share experiences, reflect on how to attain self-sufficiency in strategic crops, review the agri-food systems, and reflect on future strategies.
As for EDB’s CEO, he stated that the agricultural sector, which was historically our primary engine of economic growth, today contributes 3.7% of the country’s gross domestic product and annually generates Rs 20 billion in terms of export proceeds.
The Agri-Business, emphasised Mr Poonoosamy, remains central to the overall economic development strategy and has the potential to play a significant role in generating more income, attracting young entrepreneurs and encouraging best agricultural practices.
“We look forward to strategise and synergise discussions to come forward with a realistic vision for transforming our food systems to be aligned with the requirements of the country in the long term as well as becoming more productive and sustainable”, he added.
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