DIVERSIFICATION & FOOD SECURITY THROUGH SUSTAINABLEAGRO-INDUSTRY

The Mauritius economy has been based primarily on agriculture for many years. It began as a monocrop sector but has since fully diversified, producing and exporting over 711 tariff categories. Although the economic foundation of Mauritius has significantly expanded, the agricultural and agro-processing sector continues to be a key pillar of the country’s economy as sugar cane fields continue to dominate the island’s landscape. This industry has undergone significant modernization, change, and diversification in order to keep up with the nation’s industrial development.

Although the sector has long met the demands of the population, today’s self-sufficiency is only 23%. Today, the industry accounts for 3.3% of the country’s GDP, with sugar production and cane farming as its main industries. 

The government  promotes agricultural and agro-industrial development with the introduction of budgetary measures that encourage import substitution, food processing, shelter farming, as well as the production of higher end products like nutraceuticals, in its effort to decrease dependence on food imports, increase revenues, and export earnings. 

The government of Mauritius has expanded the Trade Promotion and Marketing Scheme, which provides a 40% discount on air freight costs for exports of agricultural products to Europe, Japan, Australia, Canada, and other countries.