Antoine-Marie Moustache

Seychelles Agricultural Agency (SAA)

Victoria

April 2011

Presentation Highlights

1. Policy and institutional support to the sector;

2. Main challenges to agricultural production;

3. Targets of national agricultural production;

4. Principles of agricultural undertakings;

5. The leverage points of agriculture;

6. The current status of national food production;

7. The new set of leverage points.

2. Policy Position and Institutional Support

to the National Agricultural Sector

• Agricultural Development Strategy 2007-

2011;

• Food Security Strategy 2008-2011;

• Agriculture and Fisheries Incentives Act

(2005).

3. Main Challenges (land based food prod)

• Limited land area with many competing

ends;

• State land limited and in huge demand ;

• Limited range of local agricultural

production opportunities;

• Infertile soil and impacts of climate

change is being felt: heat, humidity, pests,

drought, high rainfall etc;

• Inconsistency of labour availability and

productivity.

4. Targets for Crops and Livestock

production by 2011

• 100% pork;

• 100% broiler poultry;

• 100% table eggs;

• ≥80% fruit and vegetables.

5. Main Principles and Opportunities

• Exploit domains in which Seychelles has

comparative advantages;

• Defined roles: the State as facilitator, private

sector is to produce food;

• Established clear food production targets;

• Defined the main issues/leverage points.

6. Five Leverage Points/Issues had been Identified:

• Agricultural land;

• Agricultural inputs and supplies;

• Agricultural infrastructure;

• Agricultural policy and institutional support;

• Agricultural sector personnel development and

training.

7. Addressing the Issue of Agricultural Land

• Revalorise and maintain existing agricultural

land;

• Allocate suitable State agricultural land to

farmers;

• Make every home a garden;

• Utilise ex-tea plantation land for crop

production and livestock production;

• Protect and manage agricultural land through

legislation;

• Put agricultural land on tender for agricultural

development.

8. Addressing the Issue of

Agricultural Inputs and Supplies

• The State makes available

agricultural inputs;

• Valorize local inputs;

• Invite the participation of the private sector to

stock agricultural inputs.

9. Addressing the Issue of Agricultural Infrastructure

• Provide and maintain communal agricultural infrastructure

such as reservoirs, barrages, distribution systems and farm

access;

• Establish a central wholesale market;

• Provide relevant infrastructure on leased State

agricultural land;

• Maintain and retain adequate technological infrastructure

for research and development;

• Allow participation of local strategic partners in

management and ownership of livestock production facilities.

10. Addressing the Issue of Agricultural Policy and

Institutional Support

•Agricultural policy with wide consensus/support and

achievable targets;

• Promotion of relevant new legislation, standards and

codes of practice or review of old ones with a view to

support the sector;

• Definition of clear roles and responsibilities among the

parties/stakeholders .

•Provide favourable credit facilities;

• Periodic review of the Food Security Strategy 2008-

2011;

• Partnering with regional and international organisations;

11. Addressing the Issue of Agricultural Policy

and Institutional Support (cont...)

12.Addressing the Issue of Agricultural Sector

Personnel Development and Training

• Train and build capacity for professionals/

technicians/food producing entrepreneurs on appropriate

technology for crops and livestock production;

• Orient SAHTC to meet the needs of the industry;

• Improve the global perception of agriculture as a career.

13. Current Level of Local Outputs (January 2011)

• 100% table eggs;

• < 2 % beef;

• 40 % pork;

• 10% broiler chicken

• 60% fruits and vegetables

14. New List of Leverage Points

• Agricultural land;

• Competitively priced loans;

• Marketing of agricultural produce;

• Agricultural labour;

• Agricultural infrastructure;

• Institutional support;

• Training of support personnel