Cultivating Our Future: A Call to Action for Food Security and National Growth

His Excellency Mr. Dharambeer Gokhool, President of the Republic of Mauritius

 In his opening remarks, The President posed a pertinent question. Have you ever stopped to think about where our food truly comes from, and why it matters so much to our nation's future? Based on this question, he shared some insights on just that – reminding us that food security isn't just a buzzword, it's the bedrock of a healthy, thriving Mauritius.

Empowering Our Community: A Collaborative Success Story

Falcon association, was commended for its foresight and remarkable evolution. What began with socio-cultural activities has blossomed into an initiative directly addressing the urgent need for food security. Falcon's success, as the President highlighted, is a testament to its "collaborative strategy," bringing together civil society, universities, and other key organizations.

The President emphasized, this knowledge gained by the participants will empowers them to "add value to what we grow, what we cook, and what we export," ultimately ensuring "food safety and security so vital for a healthy population. My only wish is that you put your acquired knowledge into action and aim for tangible outcomes."

Confronting Challenges: The Heavy Cost of Imports and Our Path to Self-Sufficiency

Despite significant strides, our journey towards complete food security is not without its hurdles. The President acknowledging the real challenges we face and the high expectations placed on the government by its people.

One glaring issue is our continued reliance on imports for processed foods and essential staples. As a small island developing state (SIDS), Mauritius has historically been a net food importer. While recent efforts have increased local production, our overall self-sufficiency ratio still hovers around 25%. Think about that: in 2021 alone, agricultural imports accounted for a staggering $1 billion, representing nearly 20% of our total imports. This isn't just a number on a spreadsheet; it makes us highly vulnerable to global price fluctuations, unpredictable supply chain disruptions, and currency exchange rate volatility. These external shocks directly impact the cost of living for every Mauritian citizen, straining household budgets and putting pressure on our national economy. The President's pointed question, "For how long?" underscored the critical urgency of addressing this economic drain and fostering robust local production. It's a stark reminder that we currently import nearly 100% of our rice and edible oil, and a significant portion of our meat and milk – highlighting the vast, untapped potential for import substitution and building true economic resilience.

Government's Blueprint for Agricultural Transformation: Investing in Our Land and People

To tackle these challenges head-on, the government has laid out an ambitious blueprint for agricultural transformation, backed by a substantial allocation of Rs 800 million in the recent budget. This isn't just about throwing money at the problem; it's a strategic investment in creating a more resilient, technologically advanced, and modern agricultural sector. The President's message was clear: there's an expectation of tangible results, with "clear and precise performance indicators" and "no excuse for not achieving the target set." Accountability, he stressed, is paramount.

Key initiatives and focus areas designed to revolutionize our agricultural landscape include:

• Optimizing Land Use: A land suitability map was launched, a very useful tool, a tool to identify and categorise areas of land based on their suitability to determine whether activities for agriculture and call for a sustainable development for the future of the agricultural sector. The president emphasised the importance of preserving prime agricultural land.
• Strengthening Market Systems: The President specifically highlighted the importance of organizations like the Agricultural Marketing Board and the State Trading Corporation, urging them to "synergize and try to help the country when help is needed" to prevent exorbitant prices for essential goods. A robust and dynamic market system is absolutely essential to efficiently link our dedicated farmers to consumers.
• Addressing Labor Shortages: Recurrent labor shortages in agriculture are a known challenge, and it's encouraging to hear that the Minister is actively addressing this critical bottleneck to increased production.

Unleashing the Potential of the Blue Economy: Our Ocean, Our Future

Beyond our fertile lands, the President's speech underscored the immense, often untapped, potential of Mauritius's Blue Economy. Just consider this: with an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 2.3 million square kilometers – that's over 500 times larger than our landmass – and our recently regained sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, our maritime resources are truly vast. They represent an incredible opportunity that we are determined to fully leverage.

Currently, the blue economy, traditionally represented by coastal tourism, fishing, seafood processing, and seaport activities, contributes around 10-15% of the country's GDP. But the government's ambitious vision is clear: to double this contribution to 20% in the medium term. This will involve both consolidating our traditional maritime activities and boldly developing exciting new, emerging sectors.

The stark contrast between our vast marine territory and our current fish production (only 10,000 tons out of an annual consumption of 30,000 tons) signals a significant, immediate opportunity. The President's direct call to increase local fish production, including exploring ways to increase the percentage of by-catch, is a clear challenge to fully leverage this marine wealth and reduce our import dependency.

A Shared Vision for a Self-Sufficient Future

The speech concluded with a call to action, reframing every challenge we face as a "hidden opportunity." "We must take up the challenges," the President urged, confident that by doing so, "we shall have enough food for thought for purposeful and urgent action."

To the newly certified participants, the President's final message was clear and inspiring: "Let today not be an end but a beginning. As you receive your certificates remember that you are also receiving a responsibility – a responsibility to act, to innovate, to uplift others, and to keep learning."