The Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development, Dr Renganaden Padayachy, met various representatives of the agriculture sector, on Friday 01 April 2022, in Port-Louis. The meeting was held in context of the ongoing Pre-Budget consultations 2022-2023.
In a statement after the meeting, the President of the Mauritius Sugar Syndicate, Mr. Jacques d’Unienville, said that he discussed with the Finance Minister the need for new measures to encourage sugarcane replantation in light of the current global food crisis and increase of prices. He pointed out that there are many abandoned sugarcane lands which need to be put under cultivation again, and stressed on the need to elaborate on the required schemes to this end.
According to him, sugarcane replantation will enable the country to increase its sugar production, its renewable energy production and strengthen its food security.
As for the General Secretary of the Mauritius Chamber of Agriculture, Mrs Jacqueline Sauzier, she indicated that discussions focused on three main topics. These, she said, are the Biomass Framework, the need to increase local agriculture as well as a reform of agricultural practices, and enhancing long-term resilience in the wake of economic and climatic challenges.
She underlined that she also requested to review the Roadmap for the sector.
