Under the Northern Plains Irrigation Project (NPIP), which forms part of the Government of Mauritius national crop diversification programme, the European Union is providing support to the agricultural diversification over 700 hectares of land in the northern plains of Mauritius. Funds are being provided by the European Union, under the VIIth European Development Fund, for international technical assistance to support diversification (which includes 32.8 man months of long-term consultancy and 29 man-months of short term expertise) as well as for related field activities and capacity building.
Indeed in January 2003, Vakakis International S.A. has been recruited to provide the technical assistance to the executing agency, the Agricultural Research and Extension Unit (AREU) of the Food and Agricultural Research Council (FARC), under the aegis of the Ministry of Agriculture Food Technology and Natural Resources. The aim is to enhance support provided by AREU’s extension and research services to the planting community in its endeavor to diversify its agricultural production base.
Foodcrop production occupies a very important place in Mauritian agriculture. The total area under food crops harvested yearly is estimated at 6,500 hectares, with an estimated production ranging between 90,000 tonnes to 100,000 tonnes. Within the northern region of the island, the northern plains represent a significant area for agricultural activity with an important number of planters involved in foodcrop production. Some 156 hectares are regularly used for food crop production. The main crops grown in the area are tomato, potato and chilly. Other crops, for example, okra, groundnut, eggplant, cucumber and pumpkin are also grown, in relatively less quantity, depending on the season. An additional area of 8 hectares is under fruit production.
It is well known that the soil fertility in the northern plains of Mauritius is inherently good and that crop production has been severely constrained by a lack of irrigation facilities. Thus with the forthcoming implementation of irrigation networks, drawing on water from the newly constructed Midlands Dam, the potential is great for planters to extend the area under cultivation and improve crop yields. Besides irrigation will make the cultivation of a wider range of crops possible and thereby broaden the island’s food crop base which will ensure more stable financial returns for the small planters.
At a national level, the Northern Plains Irrigation Project makes available reliable irrigation facilities, which will serve to develop the production of fruits and vegetables thereby reducing dependency on food imports. Further, an increase in the volume of exports is expected which will subsequently improve the balance of foreign exchange. Moreover, the Project could be the stepping-stone towards the adoption of a more business-oriented approach to sustain agricultural development over coming years.