Minister hopeful of livestock sector’s revival |19 February 2014

The Minister for Natural Resources has said he is confident that the livestock sub-sector in Seychelles will be revived and has thanked all those die-hard farmers for their resilience in the face of difficulties.

Minister Peter Sinon was speaking at the opening on Monday of a livestock training programme organised by his ministry and the Seychelles Agricultural Agency (SAA) in collaboration with the Galilee International Management Institute and the Agriculture & Environment Twinning Centre (AETEC) of Israel.

The aim of the course is to enhance livestock production, extension services and good agricultural practices so that agricultural officers can better advise farmers and students in ways to be more effective in their farming activities.

The participants will learn strategies and skills for improved extension services, acquire practical knowledge for effective livestock disease prevention and nutrition management; acquire improved understanding and knowledge of fertility and modern artificial insemination technology and practices and learn effective skills and techniques for efficient livestock management practices.

Minister Sinon recalled the hardest period of economic restructuring, reform, opening up of markets during which we have witnessed the fall of many a farm and farmers.

“The cheaper imported Brazilian chicken, the cheaper pork chops and other meats and vegetables have seen the end of many a farm and farmers,” he said.

“It is no secret that the once flourishing local livestock sector that was supplying the majority of its own products to the local population is now barely able to keep its head above water. The livestock industry that once had the ability to produce over 80% of the total meat to the local market has seen the closure of 60% of its broiler farms and now only managing a meager supply of 11% of total local meat consumed,” said the minister.

He made reference to the drastic downfall in production of local poultry, pork and cattle meat from previous years to the present where currently 6% of poultry, 20% of pork and 1% of cattle meat are produced locally.

In the face of all this, Minister Sinon hailed those farmers who have stuck to their trade and profession.

“All signs predicted a total wipe out. The fear that there would be no local farmers left in the business was real. Yet - this was and is still not the case. Many threw the white towel but there are the few who to this day have stuck to their trade and profession. The difficulties they have and are still facing cannot be overstated - yet they have proved to be some of the most resilient, hard-working, stubborn, never-say-die farming patriots that our small country has the privilege to possess,” he said.

“Without those men and women who believe in the soils and their abilities to continue producing quality food for our populace and for their loyal clients, there would be no need for my ministry, for the agency, for the staff and officers and for this course. Their tenacity has been my most significant personal motivation in the quest to revive the agricultural sector,” said Minister Sinon.

Minister Sinon also acknowledged that the livestock sub-sector is the most difficult to pull out of the difficulties as it has hit rock bottom.

“So the hope is that the only way to go from 'rock bottom' is UP! But the difficulty is not only in revamping this sub-sector but also the SAA which has significant infrastructure and human resource deficiencies that have to be addressed and the sooner the better so the ministry can make significant headway in the upward direction,” he said.

He also mentioned the veterinary services and its infrastructure as well as the services and products of the abattoir and feed meal as other obstacles that have to be addressed.

Expressing optimism on the revival of the sector and its die-hards, Minister Sinon said that his ministry need not only focus on production but on all the post harvest elements that satisfy the market and can have an edge on the competing imports. Though the local products do not have the 'economies of scale' advantages that can drive down price, Minister Sinon said he firmly believes we do have the 'traceability and freshness' advantage that can be traced from the farm to the fork with assurances of quality, nutritious local foods.

Minister Sinon thanked President James Michel for his encouragement in the conduct of this training and the Ministry of Finance for the necessary funding.