Agro: ‘Ferrina’ bean variety to promote nutritional and agricultural benefits

‘Ferrina’, a biofortified bean variety with the potential to improve dietary nutrition and support local food production, was showcased, yesterday, during a Field Day held in Réduit, with students from several colleges taking part in the activity.

The Minister of Agro-Industry, Food Security, Blue Economy and Fisheries, Dr Arvin Boolell; the Junior Minister, Mr Gilles Fabrice David; the Chief Executive Officer of the Food and Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (FAREI), Dr Madhvee Madhou; and other personalities were present.

The event was organised by the FAREI in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in partnership with the SADC Secretariat under the Food and Nutrition Component of the Support Towards the Operationalisation of the SADC Regional Agricultural Policy Phase II (STOSAR II) Project, funded by the European Union.

The ‘Ferrina’ bean variety, developed by the International Center for Tropical Agriculture, Ferrina has been recommended by the FAREI for cultivation in Mauritius since 2019. The variety contains significantly higher levels of iron than the locally cultivated Red Pearl bean, 106 milligrams per kilogram compared with 60 milligrams while also providing zinc, protein and dietary fibre.

Addressing participants, Minister Boolell emphasised the importance of agricultural innovation in enhancing food and nutrition security and called for greater self-sufficiency in food production. The Minister urged the population to “produce what you eat and eat what you produce”, while encouraging farmers to adopt biofortified varieties such as Ferrina to reduce reliance on food imports and improve dietary quality.

Junior Minister David indicated that the Field Day provided an opportunity to showcase ‘Ferrina’s’ agronomic performance, yield potential and nutritional benefits, while raising awareness among young people about the importance of sustainable agriculture.

As for the CEO of FAREI, she reiterated the Institute’s commitment to promoting the production and consumption of nutrient-rich crop and encourage the adoption of biofortified varieties.

The event also featured the launch of a ‘Ferrina’ flyer and recipe book, as well as the distribution of seed samples and information kits. Students visited exhibits showcasing the variety’s agronomic performance and nutritional advantages.

21 August 2026

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Topics: Agriculture