Clissa Project: First market study report presented |16 October 2014

Did you know that Seychellois households spend on average 15% of their budget on liquor and 3% on vegetables?

The statistics may sound surprising but this is what was revealed in the Site (Seychelles Institute of Teacher Education) auditorium on Tuesday afternoon during the first presentation of the findings of a market study carried out as part of the Competitive Local Innovations for Small Scale Agriculture or Clissa Project.

Sponsored by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (Ifad) and conducted by local consultants SGM and Partners Consulting, the one-year study had sought to answer questions on the demand and supply situation of the agricultural and fisheries sectors of Seychelles and the availing challenges to small scale agriculture.

Clissa has also concentrated its efforts on building capacity along the local food chain and financing small projects.

Tuesday’s presentation was led by Guy Morel in the presence of the principal secretary for Natural Resources Michel Nalletamby, chief executives of the Seychelles Agricultural Agency (SAA) and of the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA) respectively Marc Naiken and Finley Racombo, project coordinator Georges Bibi, farmers and other partners in the agricultural and fisheries sector.

Among the challenges facing local small scale agriculture revealed by the study, the presentation highlighted a low level of preparedness to deal with the emerging trading environment, a slow pace of introduction of new technology, a highly fragmented sector with little supply and demand coordination, poor credit facilities in favour of farmers, a lapse in support institutions and an undefined agricultural strategy.

However, the study has concluded that if the scope for growth is limited in the fish and meat sector, it exists in agricultural production and consumption.
“All segments of society show appreciation of local farm products. Hotels and restaurants have affinity for local suppliers. So the foundation exists for a healthy partnership if the products are available,” it says.

The report goes on to propose that the way forward is a new strategy and road map to transform the current local small scale agricultural sector. These include developing a culture of entrepreneurship, building bases of competitive advantages with more innovative ideas, adding value through differentiation and creating value-based partnerships.

Concretely, it recommends that the government continues with its land allocation reform, sets up a business support center in the SAA for supply and demand coordination, improves business up-skilling and marketing communications, upgrades and realigns the strategic role of Farmers’ Training Centre, accelerates farmers’ access to sustainable low interest loans and activate the establishment of a number of model farms within the next 18 months. The consultants believe that this will set the example for food production in Seychelles.

In their identification of demand in local agricultural products and gaps in meeting the demand, the research team which also comprised Dr Justin Valentin, Bernard Monnaie, Xavier Estico and Claudette Albert, have also suggested some simple and immediate measures to improve food production and distribution.
These include a private entrepreneur investing in a cherry picker to harvest fruit which otherwise if not eaten by bats fall on the ground and go to waste, set up more roadside fruit and vegetable retail kiosks and use district shops to increase distribution outlets.

They have also recommended that the SAA remodel its requisite store for it to become a proactive supply chain for best rate and supply assurance.
At the same time, they feel that local farmers need to become more organic.

PS Nalletamby, has remarked that Clissa is not only important to the agricultural sector but to the entire economy.

He added that the market study will serve as the foundation to identify the gaps in terms of demand from consumers and producers.

Should the study’s results be implemented, let us hope that it will convince and encourage Seychellois families to consume more vegetables and fruit than liquor!