Africa-Press – Mauritius. The Minister of Agro-Industry and Food Security, Mr Teeruthraj Hurdoyal, effected a site visit, today, at the National Wholesale Market (NWM) in Wooton.
The aim was to take stock of the status of operation of the market since its inauguration in July 2023 and to reflect on further improvement of the infrastructure for the welfare of wholesalers and customers.
The Minister also met with representatives of the Agricultural Marketing Board (AMB), the Mauritius Chamber of Agriculture, the Food and Agricultural Research and Extension Institute, the Small Farmers Welfare Fund, as well as producers and stakeholders of the Agro-Industry to discuss suggestions and proposals of wholesalers.
In a statement, Minister Hurdoyal indicated that the main aim of the visit was to take stock of the challenges faced by wholesalers and to come up with concrete solutions for enhanced operation of activities. He dwelt on several measures that can be brought forward for the benefit of wholesalers and customers in general.
They comprise: the creation of green waste disposal to make compost; the installation of a sound system for better communication and CCTV camera for greater security; better signage to enhance visibility of wholesalers; and a helpdesk to provide assistance and support.
Minister Hurdoyal expressed satisfaction regarding food safety practices and norms that are being respected by wholesalers. The NWM, he stated, provides a more hygienic space for planters to sell their products to wholesalers and customers. On this note, he mentioned that the AMB will try to provide additional crates to wholesalers for better safety.
Furthermore, he stressed on the importance of implementing an electronic display of information for consumers to be aware of the prices of vegetables, and added that the infrastructure will be further modernised to keep pace with international trends and norms.
It is recalled that the NWM, constructed on a plot of land of 30 arpents to the tune of some 450 million rupees, was inaugurated in July this year, to modernise the sector and bring efficiency, market transparency and consumer satisfaction. As at date, there are around 42 wholesalers who are operating at the NWM.
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