In the face of ongoing challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia and Ukraine War, it is essential to reduce the consequential impacts on national food security level by encouraging self-sufficiency, said the Minister of Industrial Development, SMEs and Cooperatives, Mr Soomilduth Bholah, on Thursday morning, at the National Cooperative College (NCC), in Bois Marchand.
The Minister was speaking at the launching of a two-day training session on Rodriguan Cuisine, organised in the context of the International Day of Cooperatives 2022.
Six women cooperators from Rodrigues are providing training to some 22 participants on the preparation of Rodriguan dishes namely: baked cassava, sweet potato cakes, maize pudding and maize rice.
“We should produce what we consume”, said Minister Bholah in his address. He also emphasised the need to further encourage local production and consumption in a bid to reduce reliance on imports and optimise the country’s resources.
The Minister pointed out that there are 1,050 registered cooperatives out of which 80 are from Rodrigues which is commendable and is proof of the determination of cooperators operating in Rodrigues. On this note, he urged the participants to make the most of the training and learn from the experience and expertise of the Rodriguan trainers.
