Minister Boolell calls for innovative pest management to boost crop yields

The need to harness scientific innovations and modern pest management techniques to protect crops, improve agricultural productivity and strengthen food security was highlighted by the Minister of Agro-Industry, Food Security, Blue Economy and Fisheries, Dr Arvin Boolell, this morning in Réduit.

He was speaking at the opening of a Regional Training Course on Area-Wide Integrated Pest Management, including the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT), being hosted by his Ministry from 19 to 23 October 2026. A pamphlet on SIT was also launched on the occasion.

The Junior Minister of Agro-Industry, Food Security, Blue Economy and Fisheries, Mr Gilles Fabrice David; the International Atomic Energy Agency expert, Mr Walther Enkerlin; and other personalities were also present.

In his address, Minister Boolell emphasised the importance of translating scientific knowledge into concrete action, particularly in addressing the threat posed by fruit flies to agricultural production. He stressed the need to leverage modern scientific advances and ensure that innovative pest management techniques reach farmers while maintaining compliance with sanitary standards.

Highlighting the growing importance of precision and smart agriculture, Dr Boolell underscored the need to maximise the use of technology to improve agricultural productivity. He called on scientific officers to play an active role in empowering farmers to increase yields and produce more affordably.

The Minister also referred to Africa's agricultural development commitments and the importance of knowledge-sharing and scientific cooperation in addressing challenges facing the sector.

For his part, Junior Minister David underscored that challenges relating to food security, climate resilience and sustainable natural resource management require collective action and regional cooperation. Referring to Mauritius' limited arable land, labour shortages and water scarcity, he outlined the need to adopt smarter production methods to increase agricultural output while protecting the environment. Effective pest management, he pointed out, is essential to ensuring a reliable supply of safe and quality food.

For his part, Mr Enkerlin indicated that the training forms part of the Atoms4Food initiative, which seeks to enhance food security, combat hunger and reduce poverty. He expressed hope that participants would acquire innovative tools and cost-effective strategies to strengthen pest control efforts in their respective countries.

The Regional Training Course

Organised under the African Regional Cooperative Agreement for Research, Development and Training related to Nuclear Science and Technology, the five-day training brings together 26 participants from various African countries and focuses on integrating pest management approaches with SIT to effectively control fruit fly populations.

The initiative aims to strengthen technical capacities, reduce reliance on pesticides, improve crop yields and enhance agricultural export opportunities, while promoting sustainable agriculture and food security across Africa.

19 October 2026

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Topics: Agriculture