| |
Agricultural Sector (including sugar milling)
|
|
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
Sugarcane value added |
Rs Bn |
5.3 |
5.2 |
5.1 |
4.6 |
Sugar Milling value added |
Rs Bn |
1.6 |
1.6 |
1.6 |
1.4 |
Non- Sugar value added |
Rs Bn |
4.7 |
4.6 |
5.0 |
5.2 |
Total Agriculture value added |
Rs Bn |
11.6 |
11.4 |
11.7 |
11.2 |
Sugar/ GDP |
% |
4.5 |
4.2 |
3.7 |
2.9 |
Non- Sugar/ GDP |
% |
3.1 |
2.8 |
2.7 |
2.5 |
Total Agriculture/ GDP |
% |
7.6 |
7.0 |
6.4 |
5.4 |
| Growth rates |
|
|
|
|
|
Sugar |
% |
10.6 |
-9.2 |
-2.9 |
-13.6 |
Non-Sugar |
% |
5.4 |
-1.1 |
4.5 |
-1.1 |
Agriculture |
% |
8.3 |
-5.8 |
0.4 |
-7.8 |
Employment |
No. |
51,300 |
50,900 |
50,200 |
|
Sugar / Total employment |
% |
4.2 |
4.1 |
3.9 |
|
Non-Sugar/ Total employment |
% |
5.9 |
5.9 |
5.8 |
|
Agriculture/ Total employment |
% |
10.2 |
10.0 |
9.7 |
|
After a contraction of 5.8 % in 2005, the agricultural sector showed signs of recuperation with a positive growth rate of 0.4 % in 2006. But, in 2007, the agricultural sector declined by 4.4 % from Rs 11.7 bn to Rs 11.2 bn. In real terms, the contraction was 7.8 % in 2007. Both low performances in the sugar and non-sugar sectors contributed to the decline in the agricultural sector. Consequently, the contribution of the agricultural sector to GDP continued to fall from 6.4 % in 2006 to 5.4 % in 2007. The sector’s share in total employment is also expected to decline as a result of Voluntary Retirement Scheme in the sugar sector in 2007.
Sugar Sector
In current terms, value added of the sugar sector dropped by 11.0 % from Rs 6.7 bn in 2006 to Rs 6.0 bn in 2007. In real terms, following an expansion of 10.6 % in 2004, the sector showed a contraction in 2007 with a negative growth rate of 13.6 %. The main reasons attributed to the downfall of the sugar cane production were bad weather and reduction in total area harvested. Sugar cane production declined by 10.8 % from 4,748,973 tonnes in 2006 to 4,235,849 tonnes in 2007. This level of production was among the lowest registered over the past decade (except in 1999 when sugar cane production slumped to 3,882,000 tonnes). Cyclone Gamede caused cane productivity to drop from 71.17 tonnes/hectare in 2006 to 64.91 tonnes/hectare in 2007. Total area harvested also fell from 66,732 hectares in 2006 to 65,259 hectares in 2007.
The share of the sugar sector in GDP decreased from 3.7 % to 2.9 %. In 2007, the sector’s share in total employment, which was 3.9 % in 2006, is also expected to fall.
6.1.2 Non-sugar sector
Value-added of the non-sugar sector grew slightly from Rs 5.0 bn in 2006 to Rs 5.2 bn in 2007. But its real growth rate declined from 4.5 % in 2006 to –1.1 % in 2007. As a percentage of GDP, it dropped from 2.7 % in 2006 to 2.5 % in 2007. The sector’s decline was attributed to bad weather conditions and reduction in area harvested. From 8,144 hectares in 2006, total area harvested dropped by 8.0 % to 7,496 hectares in 2007. The sector’s production dropped by 10.2 % from 114,849 tonnes in 2006 to 103,171 tonnes in 2007.
The sector’s share in total employment is also expected to diminish from 5.8 % in 2006.
|
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
Tea (green leaves) |
7,229 |
6,798 |
7,649 |
8,027 |
Tea (manufactures) |
1,482 |
1,387 |
1,567 |
1,563 |
Tobacco |
427 |
357 |
298 |
322 |
Food crops |
111,633 |
96,782 |
106,902 |
94,822 |
Area harvested (hectares) |
8,603 |
7,919 |
8,144 |
7,496 |
Livestock (beef, goat, meat, mutton and pork) |
3,306 |
3,304 |
2,967 |
2,433 |
| Poultry |
30,900 |
33,000 |
36,000 |
40,000 |
| Fish |
9,430 |
8,982 |
8,885 |
5,926 |
Cultivation of tealeaves rose by 4.9 % from 7,649 tonnes in 2006 to 8,027 tonnes in 2007. But there was a drop in tea manufacture from 1,567 tonnes to 1,563 tonnes. Food crops production fell by 11.3 % from 106,902 tonnes in 2006 to 94,822 tonnes in 2007. During the same period, on one hand, poultry production rose from 36,000 tonnes to 40,000 tonnes. On the other hand, fish production dropped from 8,885 tonnes to 5,926 tonnes and livestock from 2,967 tonnes to 2,433 tonnes.
Strategic Options in Crop Diversification and Livestock Sector (2007-2015)
As a review of the Non-Sugar Sector Strategic Plan (NSSSP) 2003-2007 and a complement to the Multi Annual Adaptation Strategy (MAAS) in the sugar sector, the Government proposed a series of measures for the non-sugar agriculture for the period 2007-2015. The overall goal is to significantly increase food and agricultural production in a competitive and sustainable manner by the year 2015 through innovative production methods, novel product development while opening access to new markets.
The following main outcomes are expected:
- The domestic demand for vegetables met on a continuous basis and to achieve at least 70% sufficiency in certain key commodities;
- Milk and meat production stabilised to reach 10% sufficiency by 2015;
- Increased agro-processing activities with constant supply of primary materials;
- Increased access to land, mechanisation and use of technology leading to increased production of tropical and exotic fruits;
- Adoption of a commercial and competitive approach towards farming;
- Improved food safety practices;
- Export market for selected fruits, vegetables and ornamentals;
- Efficient integrated pest management in place;
- Increased service provision in the agricultural sector through improved communication and marketing through better extension service delivery.
More information can be obtained from:
Central Statistics Office: http://www.gov.mu/portal/site/cso
Ministry of Agro Industries and Fisheries: http://www.gov.mu/portal/site/moa
Mauritius Chamber of Agriculture: http://www.mchagric.org/
Agricultural Marketing Board: http://www.gov.mu/portal/sites/amb/index.htm
Agricultural Research and Extension Unit: http://www.areu.mu/
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