Mauritius: The Food and Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (FAREI), in collaboration with the Delegation of the European Union in Mauritius, is organizing an agro-entrepreneurship week from 15 to 18 November 2023 under the Development-Smart Innovation through Research in Agriculture (DeSIRA) initiative.
The launching ceremony was held today at the FAREI Farmer’s Training School in Wooton, in the presence of the Minister of Agro-Industry and Food Security, Teeruthraj Hurdoyal, the Chairperson of FAREI, Hemraj Woodun, the Parliamentary Private Secretary, Mr Soobeersingh Dhunnoo, and other personalities.
In his address, Minister Hurdoyal expressed satisfaction as regards the number of youths joining the agricultural sector. He elaborated on the difficulties encountered by entrepreneurs at the beginning of a start-up and encouraged them to persevere and be persistent so as to succeed.
He indicated that the entrepreneurs who exhibited their products during the week had received training at FAREI and were selling their products on the local and international market.
“This,” he said, “is testimony to the determination and courage of those who did not give in despite hardships and challenges.”
The agro-industry minister also emphasized the importance of local production and organic products. He stressed the need for large-scale production, which, according to him, would certainly reduce the country’s dependency on imports.
“Government,” he highlighted, “is providing several facilities in terms of training, finance, and incentives to upskill entrepreneurs and facilitate the launch of their business.”
He pointed out that, amid technological advancements, new agricultural machines and equipment now existed to facilitate and ease sustainable agriculture processes compared to traditional ones.
He called on entrepreneurs, particularly the youth, to take advantage of these opportunities to launch their businesses and contribute to the economy with a view to making the country self-sufficient in agriculture.
The main objective of the Agro-Entrepreneurship Week is to foster a strong climate-relevant, productive and sustainable transformation of the agricultural sector and food systems research for development. It will focus on business opportunities created as a result of research activities conducted at FAREI under the programme.
The first two days will be dedicated to presentations of research works which have good scope for entrepreneurial activities.