A workshop focusing on Plant Biosecurity Awareness and two video clips in English and Mauritian Creole on the topic, were launched this morning by the Attorney General, Minister of Agro-Industry and Food Security, Mr Maneesh Gobin, at the Le Labourdonnais Hotel, Caudan, in Port-Louis.
The initiative is jointly organised by the Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security, the National Plant Protection Office and Food Security and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) under the Support towards operationalisation of the SADC Regional Agricultural Policy (STOSAR).
The aim is to enlist the collaboration of all parties concerned for a coordinated control and management of transboundary pests and diseases of plants and animals through a networking among plant protection authorities, border control agencies, specialists in plant health and testing laboratories, farmers, and other relevant stakeholders (airlines, shipping lines, importers, exporters, etc).
In his address on the occasion, Minister Gobin underpinned the key objective of the Plant Biosecurity awareness campaign, which is to ensure that all the frontline workers having direct contact with plants and animals, are fully aware of the biosecurity threats, risks and precautions to be taken to prevent the spread of exotic pests. He underlined the need for frontline workers including farmers, officers working in shipping lines, importers, exporters, and fisheries officers, to be continually trained on existing biosecurity protocols.
Mauritius as a small island is vulnerable and it is crucial to protect its agricultural economy and natural resources, stressed the Minister.
Mr Gobin also urged the population to take into consideration the potential consequences of importing and breeding exotic animals such as ornamental fish as they may turn into invasive species if they are let out in the ecosystem.
