What You Need to Know
A consultative meeting was held in Mauritius to discuss the impact of the ongoing Middle East Crisis on the agricultural sector. Organized by the Small Farmers Welfare Fund, the meeting focused on short-term relief measures and medium-term strategies to support farmers facing rising costs and supply uncertainties. Key stakeholders participated to address these pressing issues.
Africa-Press – Mauritius. In the context of the ongoing Middle East Crisis, a consultative meeting aiming to come up with short-term relief measures and medium-term resilience strategies to support the farmer’s community, was held, yesterday, at the Mauritius Cane Industry Authority (MCIA) Hall in Saint Pierre.
The meeting, organised by the Small Farmers Welfare Fund (SFWF), in collaboration with the Ministry of Agro-Industry, Food Security, Blue Economy and Fisheries, brought together key stakeholders from the MCIA, Food and Agricultural Research and Extension Institute, Agricultural Marketing Board, Irrigation Authority, Development Bank of Mauritius and Landscope Mauritius, amongst others.
Discussions centred on the anticipated impacts of the Middle East crisis on Mauritius’ agricultural sector. Key concerns that were raised include uncertainties surrounding petrol and gas supplies, rising energy costs, the availability and increasing prices of fertilizers and livestock feed, as well as upward pressures on global food prices. These challenges are particularly significant given that Mauritius imports approximately 75% of its food, energy, and agricultural inputs.
The meeting served as a platform to reaffirm Government’s commitment to supporting farmers in the face of global uncertainties and strengthening the resilience and sustainability of the agricultural sector by navigating potential challenges.
The agricultural sector in Mauritius is heavily reliant on imports, with approximately 75% of food and agricultural inputs coming from abroad. The ongoing Middle East Crisis has raised concerns about the stability of these supply chains, particularly regarding energy and fertilizer prices. As global food prices rise, the Mauritian government is seeking to bolster the resilience of its agricultural community through strategic discussions and collaborative efforts among key stakeholders in the sector.
