Participants rewarded for promoting sustainable cultivation under the Organic Household Garden Project

“Organic farming has a key role to play in improving public health, enhancing food security and reducing Mauritius' reliance on imported food,” said the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Gender Equality and Family Welfare, Mrs Marie Arianne Navarre-Marie, this morning, at the award ceremony for participants of the Organic Household Garden Project, held at the Dr James Burty David Municipal Complex in Résidence Vallijee.

The ceremony marked the successful completion of training by 46 participants under the initiative, with each receiving their certificate and a garden kit. Implemented by the Food and Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (FAREI), the project aims at promoting the benefits of organic production and raising awareness on the harmful effects of chemical-based farming. It has been rolled out in some 30 communities across Mauritius, benefiting approximately 1,400 people through the training provided.

Also present at the ceremony were the Minister of Agro-Industry, Food Security, Blue Economy and Fisheries, Dr Arvin Boolell; the Junior Minister of the Ministry of Agro-Industry, Food Security, Blue Economy and Fisheries, Mr Gilles Fabrice David; the Lord Mayor of Port Louis, Ms Christelle Pondard; the Deputy Lord Mayor, Ms Mahzabeen Caramatali; the Chief Executive Officer of FAREI, Dr Madhvee Madhou; and other personalities.

In her keynote address, Mrs Navarre- Marie emphasised that gardening is not merely a recreational activity but also a means of improving physical and mental well-being. She pointed out that organic farming, which eliminates the use of chemical products, promotes healthier eating habits, supports disease prevention and enables households to become more self-reliant through the production of their own food.

The Deputy Prime Minister further underlined the economic potential of organic farming, noting that it can provide additional opportunities for households. Given Mauritius’ dependence on food imports, she encouraged citizens to embrace organic cultivation as a sustainable practice that can strengthen food resilience and contribute to the country’s economic development.

For his part, Dr Boolell recalled that the Organic Household Garden Project is aligned with the ‘25 by 35’ Food Security Project, announced in Budget 2026-2027. This initiative aims at enabling Mauritius to produce at least 25% of its food requirements by 2035 while reducing reliance on imported agricultural inputs.

Minister Boolell called on citizens to adopt the principle of producing what they consume and consuming what they produce, while encouraging younger generations to follow this approach. He also emphasised the need to enhance production methods to meet consumer expectations, pointing out the nutritional value of locally produced food.

As for Junior Minister David, he encouraged households to transition from conventional to organic farming practices, highlighting the importance of biological compost in sustainable cultivation. “Organic farming can be practised even in limited spaces such as terraces, yards and rooftops, and does not require large areas of land, thus enabling more people to contribute to local food production,” he added.

08 July 2026

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Topics: Agriculture