Pre-budget consultations 2026-2027 kick off with small planters and livestock breeders

The pre-budget consultative meetings for the 2026–2027 Budget kicked off, today, under the chairmanship of the Junior Minister of Finance, Mr Dhaneshwar Damry, in Port Louis. The series of meetings, scheduled over five days, opened with stakeholders from the agricultural sector, including small planters, livestock breeders, cooperatives, SMEs and startups.

The consultations aim to engage a broad spectrum of economic actors, including those from the agriculture, business, tourism and industrial sectors, alongside trade unions, consumer groups, service providers and civil society organisations, in line with Government’s inclusive approach to budget preparation.

During the first session, the Junior Minister met with representatives of small planters and livestock breeders to address key challenges facing both sectors. Discussions centred on strengthening food security, promoting smart agriculture, identifying alternatives to fertilisers, and encouraging greater youth participation in agricultural and livestock activities.

In a statement following the meeting, the representative of Falcon Association, Mr Kailah Ramdhary, noted that the proposals put forward were well received by the Junior Minister, particularly in light of current geopolitical tensions. He underlined the importance of developing alternative fertilisers through composting, addressing the shortage of skilled mechanics, increasing sugarcane production capacity, and providing subsidies to support value-added sugar products. He also called for a review of incentives for boreholes to improve irrigation and address water shortages faced by both breeders and planters.

The Secretary of the Mauritius Agricultural Marketing Cooperative Federation, Mr Rajdeo Kissoonah, underscored the importance of promoting smart agriculture and called for increased investment in cold storage facilities to strengthen food security. He further emphasised the need for greater support for seedlings and raised concerns over labour shortages in the sector.

For his part, the Secretary of the Camp Thorel Cooperative Credit Society, Mr Shrudanand Sheoraj, proposed that small sugarcane planters benefit from an advance payment of at least 80% of the guaranteed minimum revenue of Rs 35,000 per tonne of sugar. He also recommended reviewing rental costs for marginal lands leased to small planters and introducing incentives to encourage intercropping in response to rising food demand.

Representing the Rich Bois Agricultural Marketing Cooperative Society Ltd, Mr Jugon Abdool Farhad highlighted the need to boost cassava and sweet potato production to enhance national self-sufficiency. He also stressed the importance of implementing effective measures for the proper disposal of agricultural waste.

29 April 2026

Email: gis@govmu.org

Website: https://gis.govmu.org

Mobile App: GIS News

Topics: Agriculture