Africa-Press – Mauritius. Fertilisers were distributed free of charge, yesterday in Grand Bois, to some 300 tea growers to assist them in increasing their field productivity, under the Tea Sector Support Scheme (TSSS).
The Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development, Dr Renganaden Padayachy; the Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Kailesh Kumar Singh Jagutpal; the Minister of Agro-Industry and Food Security, Mr Teeruthraj Hurdoyal, the Parliamentary Private Secretary, Mr Muhammad Ismaël Rawoo; and the Chairman of the Small Farmers Welfare Fund (SFWF), Mr Ashok Bundhoo; as well as other personalities were present.
In his keynote address, Minister Hurdoyal said that the distribution of fertilisers to tea planters, an initiative of the Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security and the SFWF, is in line with Government’s objective of boosting the tea sector.
He recalled that the TSSS was introduced in 2016 and extended to registered small tea planters including free planters, planters who are members of co-operatives and metayers.
NPK fertiliser to the tune of 175 kgs/ arpent and Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN) to the tune of 100 kg/arpent have been provided since then and every subsequent years to the above operators, he added.
He further pointed out that the total estimated costs of fertilisers to be distributed for the financial year 2023/24 stand at Rs 12,34 million and is expected to be delivered to some 983 registered tea planters.
Lauding the good quality of tea produced in Mauritius, Minister Hurdoyal recognised the efforts and determination of tea planters. He observed that tea growers face a lot of challenges and underlined that Government is implementing a lot of support schemes to boost the sector and help planters.
He mentioned the grant of Rs 10,000 for the purchase of a Mini-Harvester; a Winter Allowance to help tea planters cope with the reduction of tea leaves production during winter; and a Crop Loss Compensation Scheme which aims at assisting farmers to restart their activities promptly after the occurrence of crop/animal losses caused by calamities/diseases.
For his part, Dr Padayachy dwelt on the different schemes put in place to help the planters. He further stated that Government is supporting the planters’ community on the whole and is providing various schemes to the vegetable, fruit and flower growers, sugarcane planters and tea growers.
The objective, he underpinned, is to empower them and support their livelihoods while giving a boost to the agricultural sector. As for Dr Jagutpal, he encouraged the planters to continue to cultivate their lands and appealed to the youth to engage in agricultural practices.
Recognising Government’s efforts to boost the sector, he highlighted that the sector is an opportune and essential sector for growth and is critical for strengthening local food systems and providing gainful employment opportunities for the youth population. The Chairman of the SFWF, Mr Ashok Bundhoo, outlined the different schemes operated by the SFWF.
They include: the Fertiliser Subsidy Scheme to the tune of 50% on the cost of chemical fertilisers which is provided to horticultural growers for one crop cycle; the Bio Farming Support Scheme to the tune of 60% which is provided to small planters on the purchase of bio inputs; Farmers’ Protection Scheme which provides financial support to small planters on crop losses caused by drought, cyclones and/ or excessive rainfall and cattle breeders on death of animals caused by diseases; and the Heifer Productivity Incentive Scheme which is granted to small breeders per calf having reached the age of 3 months up to a maximum of 30 weaned calves per year.
Tea Sector Support Scheme The TSSS was introduced in 2016 to provide NPK and CAN fertilisers free of charge to small tea planters to assist them in fertilising their tea plantations to increase production in line with Government’s objective of boosting the tea sector.
Since then, the Scheme has been continuously funded by the Government for subsequent years. The Scheme is being operated, through a voucher system. A total of 1866,84 tons of NPK and CAN fertilisers amounting to around Rs 51,145,385.29 million have been granted to some 1,075 tea growers every year.
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