Is self-sufficiency possible?
9,106.2 dollars. This was the GDP per capita in 2021, according to data from the World Bank. Such relative wealth means that Mauritians are able to afford to import their rice from India or Pakistan, their meat from Australia or South Africa, and canned mushrooms from China. But what about local production? Let’s start with a definition of self-sufficiency.
"In the food context, it is the physical and financial ability of a country to meet the food needs of its population," highlights Jacqueline Sauzier, Secretary-General of the Mauritius Chamber of Agriculture. "That is, in addition to producing locally what the country needs, it also means having a sufficiently stable economy to afford what is necessary."
In reality, the food import bill in 2022 amounted to around Rs 52.81 billion, or 18% of the country’s total import bill. In this part of the Indian Ocean, South Africa dominates the rankings as a supplier to Mauritius, followed by the Seychelles archipelago with sales to Mauritius amounting to Rs 2.73 billion. Madagascar, with its millions of hectares of arable land, is in fifth place. Let’s add Kenya to this regional mix. Agriculture remains the backbone of East Africa's leading economy. However, this industry is stagnating, marked by a lack of new agricultural practices and reluctance to invest further, according to the United States Agency for International Development. Tanzania, neighboring Kenya, faces similar challenges. So does Madagascar.
That said, considering the agricultural potential of these nearby countries, the Indian Ocean/East Africa region has significant room for growth in the short and medium term. With a PhD in public law and a thesis on the trade facilitation agreement, sustainable development, and Mauritius as a small island state, Vittiyaiye Teeroovengadum explains that leveraging this regional advantage is invaluable.
"The COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on global trade, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and unforeseen economic events have disrupted the global economy. Countries are revisiting their priorities, with a focus on new regional trade horizons. In this new dynamic, Africa, and East Africa in particular, can be considered as a strategic choice given the ongoing global instability."
She adds: "In addition to South Africa, we are called to consider neighboring African countries as future trade partners. An alternative strategy would be to establish economic zones on African land, produce, transform, and redirect goods to Mauritius. This would be a double win. It would reduce costs and strengthen the vision of collective African development."
Focusing on the current international context, Raj Makoond, Program Director at Eclosia Group, echoes this sentiment: "Today, there is a consensus among international institutions that the world must work towards better food security."
Mauritius and its 1.26 million inhabitants have shown a real willingness to ensure some level of food self-sufficiency during the challenging year of 2020. Constrained by the lockdown, Mauritians made a modest return to the land while waiting for a return to normalcy.
At the forefront since the pandemic
The government seized the opportunity, multiplying financial measures to support the Mauritian community and farmers, such as the Rs 68 million allocated for 500 projects and beneficiaries in 2021 and 2022, including Rs 50.4 million for greenhouse cultivation. Moreover, small farmers received Rs 155 million last year, including Rs 64 million in subsidies for fertilizers (3,531 beneficiaries) and Rs 51 million to compensate for losses caused by extreme weather conditions (5,619 beneficiaries).
"Achieving self-sufficiency has been a goal set by every government, but it was particularly brought to the forefront during the food shortage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic," explains economist Takesh Luckho. "However, the road to self-sufficiency is difficult. We still depend on imports to meet 50% of local fish demand and 30% of vegetable demand."
For Shemida Ramdewar-Imrith, who has dedicated 17 years of her life to agriculture and advocates for the emergence of a modern agro-industry, the emphasis is now more regional. "The Indian Ocean islands and East Africa have an important role in food self-sufficiency. We can import food from these areas that we cannot obtain here, such as South African fruits, spices, seafood, and dry grains from Madagascar, as well as nuts from various East African countries. The shortage of agricultural land is felt within the farming community. Access to land, such as in Madagascar, can be beneficial for both countries and would give us access to other products. It would be an opportunity for dry grains, for example."
"Ideally, increased cooperation between Mauritius, Réunion, Madagascar, the Comoros, and East Africa would provide solutions to the logistics and food security issues in terms of market proximity and potential," emphasizes Raj Makoond. "Let’s assume Mauritius is self-sufficient in agricultural products. From there, we should work to bring this complementarity to the region."
Support as a possibility
In this context, after laying the foundations for inclusive business in the poultry sector in Madagascar, the Eclosia group is now considering becoming a partner in maize cultivation in Madagascar. "We are not farmers. We buy and process soybeans and maize to produce food for the poultry sector. But we are ready to play a facilitating role in Madagascar by providing an outlet for products and expertise to bring maize farmers together, boost the number of agricultural entrepreneurs, and improve their productivity. Our ambition is to help Malagasy farmers sustainably develop their crops to achieve long-term self-sufficiency for the country."
Today, in Madagascar, Livestock Feed Madagascar produces 70,000 tons of feed, with 40,000 tons of Malagasy maize as input. "For livestock to grow to meet the local population’s demand, it is clear that more maize is needed. It is only once local needs are met that exports could be considered."
Argentina and Europe remain the major sources of supply for the region. However, by supporting maize production in Madagascar and exceeding the country’s self-sufficiency threshold, the surplus produced would logically find markets in Mauritius and the region. This would bring additional income to Malagasy farmers while reducing freight costs and carbon footprint, explains Gérard Boullé.
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