What is the future of Mauritian agriculture, especially with the threat hanging over the sugar sector through the EU reform of its protocol? The agricultural fair held at Pamplemousses last weekend tried to give a few answers to this question.

The fair was first an opportunity for local farmers to show the public what they could do. The latter could thus discover the development and realisations of the sector so far but, above all, get a glimpse of its future. If the fair was called, ?Agriculture tomorrow?, there must have been good reasons.

The sugar sector, the major stakeholder in agriculture, is going through tough times. However, during the past 35 years ?this sector has helped to cultivate economic, social, environmental values but also boosted rural development,? says Jean-Noël Humbert, secretary general of the Chamber of agriculture.

The industry has thus striven to show an optimistic view of the future through diversification prospects: electricity, special types of sugar, agricultural rum or ethanol. Alcodis, the producer of ethanol for export, was present at the fair. The company seized the opportunity to show how ethanol could be used: cosmetics, pharmaceutical products, painting, detergents? It can also be used as a more ecological fuel for cars. Although they only export for the moment, the company is seriously thinking of selling ethanol on the local market.

Positive advances

But this fair was also a way of showing the functioning of the agriculture as a whole. 13,000 planters are involved in the non-sugar sector so it shouldn?t be neglected. This sector also has to modernise through new production and selling techniques. The Agricultural Research and Extension Unit has perfectly met these requirements so far.

Thanks to this fair, the public has been made aware of the difficulties ahead but also of the positive advances that should help the sector continue to be one of the pillars of our economy. This fair aimed first and foremost at celebrating the agricultural sector and the organisers must have achieved their goal.

Children won?t contradict this! Many came with their families and they must have gone home with more knowledge and experience of the agricultural sector. After having fun on the ponies, they learnt a lot from the various stands. Thanks to the most important stakeholders? Chamber of agriculture, Mauritius Sugar Research Institute, Insurance funds - this fair was not only entertainment for the weekend but also an educative and informative experience.