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Archive -Fishing and Agriculture

Lafwar agrikol - ‘Bringing local foods to the people’ |09 February 2018

 

The agricultural fair ‘lafwar agrikol’ in Seychelles, organised by the Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture (MFAg), has gained momentum in becoming an important showcase for the local farming and fishing industry on Mahé and Praslin. 

The MFAg has announced that the next fair, the first for 2018, has been scheduled for March 3 and 4 on Mahé at the National Sports Council (NSC) hall from 10am to 6pm; Praslin will host the same event on March 3 from 8am onwards, next to the compound of the Seychelles Trading Company (STC) depot at Amitié. More than 20 producers are expected to be present at the markets on both islands.

The fairs will bring together all kinds of professions that are engaged in some form of food production. Particular emphasis will be placed on the presentation and sale of a wide range of local produce such as fresh, tropical fruits, vegetables and root crops; fresh and live animals, fresh fish and fish products; processed vegetables and root crops; pickles and jams as well as floral and non-floral plants.

The MFAg has said that it will be covering the cost of the venue on Mahé and are only asking for a token fee from the participants in an attempt to keep prices of the produce relatively competitive and affordable for members of the public.

Principal secretary in the department of agriculture at the MFAg, Antoine Marie Moustache, has said that the decision to introduce agricultural fairs in Seychelles came following an analysis of the national agricultural sector prior to July 2007. A number of constraints which have serious implications on the growth of this particular sector were identified.

Two outstanding constraints were the access to cheap credit and financing mechanisms as well as the marketing of local agricultural produce. To partly address the latter issue, the concept of ‘lafwar agrikol’ came to fruition with the main aim of providing producers with a platform that would in turn enable them to bring their local produce directly to consumers, promote their businesses as well as our local foods and allow them to interact with the consumers.

To date, two agricultural fairs have been held on Praslin and one on Mahé; since then, producers are said to be gradually understanding the importance of such an initiative for their businesses, especially since it creates a good rapport between them and their customers for the future. It is hoped that after the upcoming fair on Mahé, producers will be able to organise future fairs with minimum support from the MFAg. 

The benefits extend not only to the producers, but also to members of the public who are able to gain direct contact with the sellers of local fresh produce that have just been harvested. The public is reminded that the ability to eat well is within reach but they also need to take their responsibility by ensuring that they manage what they consume and also do some planting of their own at home to contribute to what they eat and improve their own welfare.   

For further information, contact Udrah Brutus and Angelique Larue at the MFAg on 46723 00; extension number 344.

The accompanying photos (courtesy MFAg) show scenes from past agricultural fairs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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