CABRI – Agriculture Sector Dialogue - Dakar Senegal Country Presentation on Agricultural Reforms

1. Presentation by MrSubirajJeebodhun ACCAMinistry of Finance and E DRepublic of MauritiusJuly 2013 CABRI – Agriculture Sector Dialogue - Dakar Senegal Country Presentation on Agricultural Reforms Background and rationale for the agricultural reform Process (organisational, legal, policy changes, etc) Results-oriented performance measures Challenges Results

2. Government Economic Reform Programme - Government launched a reform programme, in 2006, aimed at transforming the country into a competitive and resilient economy and widening opportunities for all. Sugar sector reform was part of the reform. • Phasing out of the Sugar Protocol - The ACP-EU sugar protocol which offered ACP sugar-producing countries preferred access to the EU market, with annual quotas and guaranteed prices was phased out. There was a reduction in the export price of sugar. • Food Security – There was a need to focus more on food security so as to satisfy the growing needs of the country in terms of crop products and livestock products. • Forestry and Biodiversity – Maintain forest cover and preserve biodiversity. Background and rationale for the agricultural reform

3. Multi-Annual Adaptation Strategy (MAAS) 2006-2015 - Government of Mauritius’s response to the changes in the Sugar Protocol to aid in the adaptation process and to take advantage of the package of accompanying measures offered by EU. • Cost Reduction - Reduce costs of production through factory closures, centralisation and restructuring of the workforce. • By-products – Makeefficient use of sugar by-products such as bagasse for producing energy. • Poverty alleviation – Contribute to poverty alleviation by establishing voluntary retirement and re-training programmes. The process (organisational, legal, policy changes, etc)

4. Cane Industry :Transformation of the sugar industry into a cane industry with increased export potential for sugar and make other alternative use of cane by-products such as energy production. • FORIP : Recovery and rehabilitation of abandoned lands under the Field Operations Regrouping and Irrigation Projects (FORIP). • Crop Sector : Implementation of Food Security Fund Projects to increase local production of food crops, vegetables and fruits. • Livestock Sector : Implementation of Food Security Fund Projects to increase local production of meat, milk and derived products. • Forestry and Biodiversity Conservation : Maintainance of forest cover and natural reserves and preservation of biodiversity. Incorporating a result-oriented performance measures

5. Cane Industry : Abandonment of land and lack of labour. • Crop Sector : Increase local production of food crops, vegetables and fruits with greater application of hydroponics technology. • Alternative Food : A national breadfruit campaign has been launched. Planters are being sensitised. The population is being encouraged to use breadfruit as an alternative food. • Livestock Sector : Ageing farming community and labour force. • Forestry and Biodiversity Conservation : Avoid reduction of forest cover and natural reserves and preserve all existing biodiversity. • Emerging sectors : Establishment of a viable seed industry in Mauritius. Challenges

6. Cane Industry :The Mauritius Cane Industry Authority (MCIA) has been set up to maintain and consolidate the cane industry by merging institutions dependent on cess levied on sugar. • Refined sugar – Production and export of white refined sugar generate more revenue for the country. • FORIP : Abandoned cane lands are being recovered and rehabilitated under the Field Operations Regrouping and Irrigation Projects. • VRS : Voluntary Retirement Schemes (VRS) implemented • Crop production : Farmers have been trained in crop production, crop protection and agro processing The results

7. Thank you