There is considerable talk these days about major development projects ? in Ebene, Highlands, Rose-Belle, Trianon, Medine, etc., etc. These projects have resulted in the automatic appreciation in the real estate prices in the concerned regions, and in immediate inflated returns for relevant shareholders/land owners ? mainly concerned sugar barons and the SIT.

What is being conveniently omitted in the elaborate communication exercises is the fact that all of these projects involve the conversion of PRIME agricultural lands. To divert attention at a time when food security is a key concern, we are told of agricultural lands that do not belong to us in Madagascar or in Africa. This is based on the naïve assumption that in case of future food crises we would be able to tap on the generosity of our neighbours and that freight costs would be conveniently low for us to be able to leverage this good will.

We all know that the world population is increasing exponentially, that food will become scarce, that oil and other raw material reserves are being depleted and will be in short supply within the next ten years or so, that alternative sources of energy are yet to be deployed on a large scale especially as far as local and international transportation are concerned.

In brief, the future is all but rosy even if we discount for the current looming threat of recession and related geopolitical upheavals or even if we were willing to allow ourselves to be conned by CSR spin doctors and consequently avoid questioning the appropriateness of having golf courses for the affluent classes in dry areas like Tamarin, requiring of tons of fertilizers and huge amounts of irrigation water to remain green. The food riots of 2008 were just subtle warnings of what will happen in the future.

In view of the above we may wonder whether the government is really serious about food security? Are the powers that be willing or capable of walking the talk? Or are we being fooled by empty slogans? Are we sacrificing the future of coming generations for short-term economic and political gains? Will the remaining marginal lands be sufficient to produce the required amount of food for the population (not just hydroponic salad for tourists) or bagasse for energy?

<B>Paul HAN</B> [email protected]