Minister Benstrong familiarises himself with his new ministry |11 November 2016

The new Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Michael Benstrong, yesterday visited various sectors of the two departments which fall under his ministry to familiarise himself on what is happening there and to also interact with the staff.

These included the Seychelles Agricultural Agency (SAA) headquarters at Creole Spirit Building and its divisions like the Veterinary Services and Livestock Development; Requiste Store and the Plant Protection Section offices based at Union Vale.

As for the fisheries sector, the minister visited the Ile du Port, Bel Ombre and Providence fishing ports which fall under the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA).

Accompanying the minister were the principal secretary in that ministry Michael Nalletamby as well as chief executives and advisors of both the SAA and the SFA.

“The purpose of my visit was first of all to meet the staff, to understand their plight and to see which areas we can come up with new policy. For example for agriculture, we visited the Creole Spirit building which is the headquarters, then the livestock and veterinary services at Union Vale,” he said.

The minister remarked his ministry has a plan to redevelop Union Vale in terms of infrastructure. He said the plan is ready but waiting for financial assistance.

“The current infrastructure is not appropriate and is not conducive for the staff themselves. I have listened to the complaints and they have been there for the past three or four years. My ministry, together with the agency, will see how we can get something temporary to improve their working conditions while we wait for the long-term plan to re-develop Union Vale to have a bigger infrastructure where we can house the veterinary and livestock, plant protection sections,” said the minister.

Even if the purpose of the vet services was to provide support for the farmers, but with most household having pets nowadays they rely on the services for their pets. So, he said, his ministry has to entertain that as it will take some time before the private sector establish themselves to provide such a service which will be the best way forward.

For the Plant Protection service, Minister Benstrong mentioned the newly set up Biosecurity Agency which he said will play an important role.

“In the meantime the plant protection unit is playing this role but it is evident that it needs to be more focused so they can provide higher quality service,” said the minister.

He cited examples like the evolution of traditional ports of entry due to development activities in the Seychelles economy where transport like boats are entering other places on the islands apart from the commercial port, airport and the postal system.

“Therefore it is important as a ministry we keep up-to-date with the ongoing economic activities,” said Minister Benstrong.

Regarding the ports, Minister Benstrong said Ile du Port is the zone reserved for fish processing to relieve pressure from the port closer to the commercial one, where the Indian Ocean Tuna (IOT) is situated.

“We are moving some of the facilities at Ile du Port where we aim to have a fish processing plant and fish storage as well because Seychelles for many years has been transshiping a lot of fish. The fish which is caught in the region are transshipped through Port Victoria where most of them are re-exported,” he said.

He said the plan is to capture those fish and have the fish processing done in Seychelles.

For Bel Ombre, the minister said it is an important traditional fishing area and he has seen what have been done and been planned. He mentioned a fish processing plant which will open its doors very soon.

“We have seen the upgraded facilities for the production of ice which has been a big issue for the north region. And we have seen the possible areas of extensions for the existing facilities and for the fishing activities at Bel Ombre,” he said.

Minister Benstrong also remarked sometimes it is the fishermen themselves who create ice shortages though it is true that breakdowns of the ice making machines do occur.

“Fishermen nowadays have bigger boats that stay for longer periods out at sea and therefore need more ice. And the fishermen tend to come all together for ice which definitely creates a shortage. But sometimes the SFA has to close the ice-making machines as they are producing too much ice and nobody to take them. So, my ministry has to manage this dilemma,” he said.

Minister Benstrong continues his familiarisation visits today at different agricultural sectors in west Mahé.

The accompanying photos show Minister Benstrong and his delegation on their visit yesterday.