Africa-Press – Mauritius. A workshop on “Sustainable Soil Fertility Management”, organised by the Food and Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (FAREI) in collaboration with the European Union (EU) under the Development Smart Innovation through Research in Agriculture programme (DeSIRA), kickstarted, this morning, in the presence of the Attorney General, Minister of Agro-Industry and Food Security, Mr Maneesh Gobin.
The workshop, held at the Farmers Training School in Wooton, is being attended by some 45 local small planters. The participants will be familiarised with the characteristic of a healthy soil; the Soil Health Concept; the importance of soil testing and interpretation of soil analysis results; the role of growers in maintaining and improving soil health; and Soil Health Management on small growers’ farms.
They will also be introduced to emerging trends in Soil Fertility Management; Integrated approach to Soil Fertility Management; and Nutrient Management to improve and maintain soil fertility.
On the same occasion, a visit was conducted at the newly set up Soil Water and Plant Analysis Laboratory in the Resource Management Division of the FAREI, a project funded by the DeSIRA programme with the strategic objective of increasing food safety and efficient and sustainable production practices/system. A new Soil, Water and Plant Analysis Laboratory was set up.
Five laboratory equipment (UV spectrophotometer, Digital Digestor Block, Flame photometer, Laboratory Refrigerator and a computer set as well laboratory consumables were purchased with the main objective of carrying out basic physical and chemical test on soil, plant, and water samples in order to sustain soil fertility management, water management and sustainable agriculture and organic production system.
In his address on the occasion, Minister Gobin expressed gratitude to the EU for the funding of such initiatives under the DeSIRA programme, while recalling that the programme aims at contributing to climate-relevant, productive and sustainable transformation of agriculture and food systems and has already supported various projects in smart agriculture and bio farming, amongst others.
He dwelt on the importance of soil health for improved crop yield and rejoiced that the necessary equipment for analysis and testing as well as training have been provided for by the EU.
The Minister remarked that the use of chemical fertilisers in Mauritius over the years has caused land and soil degradation, a trend, he emphasised, that should be reversed. Mr Gobin pointed out that the transition to bio farming will be made gradually.
Furthermore, he announced that the Ministry is looking into the possibility of making available Soil Health testing kits on the local market so that planters can carry out their own testing.
Also present on the occasion, the First Counsellor of the EU delegation in Mauritius, Mrs Florence Van Houtte, spoke of the importance of a fertile and rich soil for enhanced crop production.
The Soil Water and Plant Analysis Laboratory, she added, will allow for soil testing and management, thus enabling small farmers to have better soil health management.
She also commended the commitment of the Government to spearhead initiatives geared towards promoting food security and smart agriculture and advance the cause of the preservation of the environment.
Besides, Mrs Florence Van Houtte renewed the support of the EU to back up the efforts of Mauritius in achieving its goal in promoting sustainable agriculture and pointed out that together with other European bodies including the Agence Française de Développement, the EU has provided financial assistance to the country for 20 projects pertaining to climate change and seven relating to agriculture.
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