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Mouvement Pour L’Autosuffisance Alimentaire
(MAA)
MAA Highlights - 1981 to 2015
1987-1990
1. MAA Permanent body with Bread for the world support became operational.
2. MAA became partner of BAM international for the Africa.
3. MAA farm at St Martin came into operation. The farm's main activity is to produce ‘Point of lays’ for the egg projects.
1992-1994
1. Agricultural training for primary school dropouts at Cite Kennedy Loreto development center. Nearly 700 students have been followed the 2-years training program leading to a certificate in agriculture.
2. Local fruits plantation program in project areas over the island.
3. Implementing the Green tourism project in Rodrigues in collaboration with Mission Rural Diocesane and the Rodriguan structure
4. MAA intervention in the South East. Micro credit fund is introduced to finance small scale agricultural and fishing projects. 200 families along the South East Coastal strip have benefited from the loan so far.
5. ‘Cooperation popiler ban ziles’ (to encourage networking between NGOS of the mascareigne islands.)
1995-1999
MAA played an active role in the struggle of La Pipe Community resettlement and integration in the wake of a large dam project (The Midland Dam) in Mauritius. As negotiator and resettlement coordinator MAA as an NGO played an essential role to ensure that La Pipe community rights were respected and that government endorsed negotiated agreements. La Pipe community was relocated without the community being dispersed.
Each of the 77 families was provided 250 msq of land and a housing unit.
Resettlement took place in Feb 1999 at MontBois to form
a new village known today as Anoska.
A research work has been done on La Pipe forced resettlement issue.
1981-1986
1. Regrouping of the unemployed around self help agricultural projects in the North and the town suburbs of the island.
2. Implementation of the first micro-egg projects (5 layers/family- production of an average of 25 eggs /week). 6000 families have s o far implemented the micro- egg projects.
MAA tries to address the food security needs of those
below the poverty line or below the minimum vital through
these family projects.
In a context of critical milk crisis, eggs have become an
alternative source of protein for the poor in Mauritius.
When a micro-egg project enabled a poor 16 years old
girl from a divorced parent to complete her Higher School
Certificate, it’s a real value change that MAA tries to bring to the lives of poor people.
3. Reinsertion of ex-prisoners through agricultural projects at Chebel.
4. MAA became a legally registered NGO.
2000- 2003
1. MAA advocacy role to support South East communities against
Flooding, Erosion and drainage problems of the South East
Coast of Mauritius. Discouraged by regular crop loss during
the rainy seasons by heavy flooding waters, tired of reinstating
their soil medium following severe erosion, South East onion
farmers from the narrow coastal trip regions have to strive hard
to face the odds for more than one hundred years.
MAA advocates for the urgent planning and implementation of an ‘Amenagement du territoire du Sud Est’. In the same move MAA is today protecting South East coast biodiversity in preventing the native local red onion from disappearing from Mauritian cuisine. Local Red Onion of the South east of Mauritius is today considered as a ‘Patrimoine agricole de l’ile Maurice’
2. Has facilitated the setting up of the ‘Association des planteurs
du Sud Est’ (APSE)
3. MAA has carried out jointly with ACIM, a consumer organization,
a cradle to grave set of studies to study the Vacoas (Pandanus Utilis)
trade, planters and weavers in the country.
Dry strips of Vacoas leaves are weaved into bags and other Pandanus
products.
There surveys namely a socioeconomic, consumer and ecological were
carried out. Recommendations of the surveys have led to the setting
up of the ‘Association des Planteurs et Artisans de Pandanus du
Sud Est’ (APAPSE) and a Vacoas (Pandanus Utilis) plantation
program on the mountain slopes of the South East coast trip.
This is an MAA contribution to the protection of the environment.
4. Has carried out jointly with University of Mauritius the
training of Rodriguan FED technicians in participatory
approaches in the context of the island Anti-Erosion project.
5. MAA embarked on its training program for social
workers in PLA, PIM, SWOT and ‘Economie familiale
et Gestion’.
6. A participatory evaluation of MAA took place.
7. MAA Plant Nursery on MAA farm came into operation.
2004-2007
1. Construction of weaver’s coordination center for APAPSE at Vieux Grand Port is underway.
2. An agro-processing unit for the production of onion
‘setts’ pickle and ‘Confi’as value-added products is
being implemented by MAA and ‘Association des
Planteurs du Sud Est’. This is to encourage onion
farmers to maintain the production the native local
red onion variety through better returns.
3. Project to mitigate drainage and salinity problems
and to improve irrigation methods in the South East is underway with the support of NDP-GEF/SGP.
4. MAA Research work on how to improve the quantity and viability of local red onion seeds and to find out the best cultural practices for the production of the right size of ‘setts’ to be processed into onion ‘Confi’ and Pickle is in progress. APSE members are full
participating in this research process.
5. Support to the Chrysalides center (for the treatment and reinsertion of ex-prostitutes) and to ‘Centre de Solidarite’ (center for the treatment of drug addicts). Eggs and agricultural projects are used as a therapy for the treatment of these centers’ residents.
6. MAA support to Small Milk producers. MAA advocacy to support the 1500 local small milk producers came following an MAA SWOT analysis of a key Milk Producers Cooperative. Recommendations of the SWOT report were used by the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) for the setting up the Government “Village Laitier” project.
MAA advocacy successfully managed to negotiate with government for an increase in the gate price of small farmer’s milk bought by Agricultural Marketing Board (AMB) from Rs 9.00 to Rs 12.00 /litre. This has been good motivation for professional farmers to boost production in the context of a powdered milk shortage in Mauritius.
The recent decision AMB to stop collecting milk from small cow keepers as from November 2007 has been challenged by MAA in October 07. Government has revised its policy and has agreed to provide a moratory period of 6 additional months before milk collection by AMB is discontinued. A working committee (MAA/MOA) is planning to set up a pilot 1500 litres/day milk pasteurizer and packing unit to help small cow keepers to produce quality milk that will ensure sustainable marketing outlet after AMB.
7. Semi industrialized Bank fishery project for Chilled
fish production for 20 Grande Riviere South East (GRSE)
artisanal fishermen. Fishing vessel 15.24 m x 4.57m is under
construction. As a result of decreasing trend in fish
productivity in the lagoon, the project seeks to relocate
artisanal fishermen of Grande Riviere South East (GRSE)
to outer lagoon fishing and to sustain their livelihoods
through a semi industrialised bank fishery as their only
option. It will also contribute towards relieving the lagoon
from over exploitation of the already depleted marine resources and thus supporting the program for the conservation.
2008-2009
Egg Project
1. Support 15 young single mothers from the very poor area of St Croix, a suburb of the capital Port Louis. The project was implemented in partnership with the Nuvo Nuvo Baz of St Croix and the MCB. The 15 young single mothers are successfully managing their respective egg projects.
2. MAA has also collaborated with the Rotary club of Grand Baie to fund an egg project for a training youth center known as “Maison Rurale” at Callesbasses.
3. Egg project was implemented at La Valette Bambous to support the health status of 25 “squatter families. Project was implemented in partnership with The National Empowerment Foundation.
4. Egg project was implemented in partnership with Collectif des Formateurs du Sud at Le Mornes, Bois D’oiseaux, Ptes Sables and Anse Jonchee. 40 families are the beneficiaries of the 5 layer/family micro egg project. Project is funded by DCP.
5. MAA continues to support social institutions to implement their
respective egg projects which are a not only a support to the nutritional
needs of the inmates but contributes to the therapies in their treatment.
These institutions are: Terre de Paix (for the Rehabilitation of Orphan
children), Chrysalide (Rehabilitation of ex-prostitutes), Centre de
Solitude (Treatment of drug addicts) and SOS village.
6. MAA continues to implement egg projects in 21 project areas over the
island to improve their deficient diet and income of vulnerable families.
Agro-processing project in the South East
1. Following MAA request, the AMB agreed to lease the AMB building for duration of 5 years (24th April 2008 to 23rd April 2013) to APSE for the setting up of an agro-processing unit.
The upgrading of the existing AMB building at Petit Sable started in April 2008 and has been completed to 80%.
2. APSE now has all the basic equipments to start up a temporary agro-unit at Grand Sable. 2000 pots onion mars pickle and confit types have been produced by APSE from February to April 2008 to be sold in hotels and public.
3. 20 women in the South East were sent for training in conservation and
preservation techniques for vegetables and fruits in general at AREU
(Agricultural Research and Extension Unit).
4. MAA is working in close collaboration with Eugenie to market APSE
agro-products both at national and international level.
5. Irrigation project at Petit Sables, Grand Sables and Bamboux Virieux
supported by the UNDP/GEF/SGP is being implemented.
MAA support to tailoring project at Vieux Grand Port
MAA is working in close collaboration with the Association des Couturiers et Couturieres du Sud Est at Vieux Grand Port. The association has been making uniforms for the public and private institutions on sub-contract basis. MAA has supported to structure their association and training them in financial management and production cost.
MAA support to artisanal fishermen
1. The Semi-Industrialised fishing vessel construction has
been completed to 80% including the hull and different chambers
construction, installation of engines and part of the plumbing
and electrical work. The project expected to be completed in
year 2009.
2. Four workshops were organized at GRSE for project
beneficiaries to work out the management aspect of the fishing vessel.
3. Four GRSE artisanal fishermen are being trained as skipper at the Sea Training School following the MAA request.
4. New fishing vessels project was submitted to the food security fund for artisanal fishermen over the island. The MAA project proposal consists of constructing 17 fishing vessels that will support 150 to 200 fishermen. Government approved the project under the Food Security Fund to the order of 22 Million rupees for 5 fishing vessels.
MAA support to Small Milk producers
The Setting up of the 4 Pasteurization units on the island
In June 2008, the Agricultural Marketing Board (AMB) finally ceased its collection of milk from small and medium sized cow keepers after a transitional period requested by MAA during which other alternative milk marketing strategies were worked out. In September 2007 MAA forwarded a special request to the Minister of Agro industry and Fisheries for the urgent need to set up pasteurization units to avoid further drawbacks in the local production. Negotiation with the Ministry of Agro industry and Fisheries took place in February 2008 at which the Government and AMB took commitments to grant 5 million rupees to set up of 4 Milk Pasteurization units on the island. However a feasibility report of these project pasteurization units was requested by AMB to MAA before the grant was finally approved by the AMB board. The four selected milk cooperatives have already received grants of 1.25 million rupees each for the implementation of their respective Pasteurization units.
Small and medium sized milk producers have been the main contributors of the 2% of our milk sufficiency. The impacts of these pasteurization units on the local milk production and consumption will have to be evaluated in the short and medium terms. It is expected that these pasteurization units would give more confidence to farmers in their endeavor to modernize their farming and marketing systems.
It is also a break-though for small milk farmers who do not want to be left behind in the new milk context. The small and medium milk producers should now use the Food security Fund as an opportunity to participate as entrepreneurs in the country’s challenge to increase our milk sufficiency from 2% to 10% by 2015.
The 4 milk cooperatives concerned with the pasteurization units are:
The Northern Livestock Cooperative society, The Cow Breeders
Cooperative Society at Nouvelle Decouverte, The Cheng Cheng
Cooperative society at Rose-belle and the Mauritius Livestock
Marketing Cooperative society at Henrietta.
Pasteurization Implementation and Monitoring Committee
(PIMC) was set up in June 08 to coordinate and monitor the
implementation of the pasteurization units under MAA coordination.
The setting of the committee had the full support of Dr Arvin Boolell
(Former Minister of Agriculture and Fishing) and Dr R. Jeetah
(former Minister of Industries and Cooperatives). The PIMC has been working in close collaboration with the Ministry of Agro industry, production and Security and that of Business and Cooperatives since its setting up.
Inauguration of 2 pasteurization units namely the Northern Livestock Cooperative Society and the Mauritius Livestock Marketing Cooperative Society took place in June 2009 and July 2009 respectively.
Training visit led by MAA for 4 milk cooperatives took place in the milk business in South Africa.
Cite Kennedy Agricultural training unit
Continue to provide training in Agriculture to drop out students of the primary school system. The new approach adapted can only help them to learn agriculture and use it as a form of a therapy to better life.
MAA advocacy
1. Conscienstisation of the public on the food crisis affecting the world, the region and Mauritius.
Interventions on local Newspaper, local radios and the Mauritius College of the Air on food crisis issue and MAA activities in the context of food security crisis.
2. Has participated in sub-food security committees namely that of meat, milk, fishing and agro processing.
3. MAA pressure through the media has contributed to force government to look concretely to the food security issues of the country and to find ways to mitigate the problems in collaboration with all stakeholders such as agricultural institutions, the private sectors and the NGOS.
4. With the closing of the Richelieu Feed Factory, MAA has negotiated with government on behalf of animal breeders for Rs 2000/ subsidies per ton of feed to be purchased from the private sector. Government has also agreed
with MAA proposal to set up mini- manufacturing units over the island to mitigate the animal feeds problem.
5. On behalf of breeders MAA is actually negotiating on the feeds subsidy quantum quota to be raised from 400 tons to 800 tons per month.
2010
1. Household egg projects for 150 new families at la Valette
Bambous, BelleMare, and Batimarais in April/May.
MAA has been collaborating with EAP to implement the
egg project in 7 new regions namely: Savanne Riviere Noire
(La Gaulette/Le Morne), Le Goulet/Camp La Boue/Bois
Pignolet, Pamplemousses, St Cathrine-St Pierre,
Anoska Village, Argi, Belle Mare and Poste de Flacq,
Valle Pitot. 125 new families have been embarked in
the project in October 2010.
2. MAA Semi-industrialized fishing vessel for GRSE, officially registered as ‘INNOVATOR’ has been completed. Innovator has been anchored at Grand Bay sea in December last for check up and trial. It is now anchored at GRSE.
3. New Semi Industrialized Fishing vessel for Med Cooperative society of Bain Des Dames Procedures for construction of a 56 ft fishing vessel in Shrilanka has been completed. Construction has started off under the aegis of MAA in Shrilanka by Northwest Marine Lanka. Project is supported to the order of 75% by the Food security Fund.
4. Buildings for the two other remaining pasteurization units to be implemented in 2011 are nearly ready. Pasteurization equipments have already been imported from South Africa.
5. MAA through its Director prepared the Ex-RicheTerre planters report that was submitted to the ‘Comite Mediation’ set up by the Prime Minister following their hunger strike. The report deals with the forced displacement of the planters of the Riche Terre Mixed farming Cooperative Society in the wake of the Mauritius Jinfei Economic Zone and Cooperation Zone Project. The Noel/ Ramkissoon report has been made public and has recommended full compensation to all 23 planters. However only 13 Nine planters have received a full compensation and MAA is still negotiating for a full compensation of the remaining 9. MAA is also negotiating for Planters DBM loans to be written off.
6. Household Gardening Projects: In the context of the high rising costs of food and the high incidence of non-communicable diseases in Mauritius, 115 vulnerable families have embarked in household gardening projects at Anoska, Le Goulet/ Pignolet,, Pamplemousses, Pavachati, LeMare, and Rosebelle/Bethlehem, and Argie, Belle Mare and Poste de Flacq villages. The project is implemented by MAA and financed by EAP of the National Empowerment Foundation and Mauritius Union. Families have been producing mostly condiments, a wide range of short cycle vegetables and beans in plastic containers placed either on the roof or other unoccupied places.
7. MAA continues to support the activities of the
Association des Artisans et Planteurs de Pandanus
du Sud Est: The weavers of the association are now
selling part of their products at the Tourist village,
Mahebourg. State land has finally been obtained at
Vieux Port for the construction of a Weavers
coordination unit and Pandanus Museum.
Construction is expected to start in 2011.
8. MAA continues to support the activities of the Planteurs in the South East: .The upgrading of the old existing AMB building into Agro-processing unit at Petit Sables has been completed to 90%. The agro-processing unit will start to operate in 2011. Construction of Drains down the mountain slopes and within the onion plots at Petit Sables have almost been completed. South East Projects are supported financially by the UNDP/GEF/SGP.
2011.
1. Household ‘Bac’ gardening projects: 18 project areas
Beneficiaries: Has reached nearly 1000families
In the context of the high rising costs of food and the high incidence of non-communicable diseases in Mauritius, food insecurity risks have been increasing for vulnerable families. Vulnerable families are those from low income groups with high risks of sudden loss of family’s revenue, access to food and of losing their bank capital as individual. It is imperative to support poor families at micro-level to reduce their Food insecurity risks through production of food at house level and its consumption by the family. It has becoming also crucial to trigger the motivation in our youth to produce food for their respective families and to ensure that it turns out to be a learning experience for them. In fact the impacts of household food production implemented should not only be measured by the extent it is mitigating any food insecurity risks at household level, but also by that new attitude of self reliance that families would be adopting in their lives. Household gardening project for example would with time instill in families that so desired peaceful and healthy style of life that can be brought through our relationship with living plants and the soil fauna.
2. Micro Egg projects:
a. Implemented in May 2011 for 116 new Families
b. Implemented in October 2011 for new 150 families.
3. Pandanus project: Land contract has finally been obtained from Ministry of Land and Housing for the construction of Weavers Coordination unit at Vieux Grand Port. Plan of Building has been finalized and has been sent to the Ministry of Housing and Land for Clearance before applying for Development Permit from the District council
4. South East Coast project( a collaboration between Association des Planteurs du Sud Est (APSE) and MAA)
a. have been completed. To mitigate the salinity problem at Petit Sables, 900 mangroves seeds have been planted so far over 1km distance along the local seacoast. It is planned in the months to come to construct 1km of retaining wall that will contribute also to mitigate the salinity problems affecting onion planters.
b. the construction of 60 m of drain at Grand Sables to channel the Mountain flooding water to the sea during the rainy seasons to avoid the usual crop damage and soil erosion has been completed.
5. Fishing vessel for Med Cooperative Society:
The 56ft fishing vessel is being constructed in Shrilanka for the Med Cooperative Society and has been completed to a level of 60% by September 2011. Fishing vessel will ready by November 2011 and should reach Port-Louis by end of the same month.
2012
1. Micro Egg projects in May2012 for 147 new beneficiaries(Vulnerable families)
2. MicroEgg projects in Oct/Nov 2012 for 280 Beneficiaries
3. Bac Household Bio-gardening project: ANU PLANTE ANU MANZE project in collaboration with Group Food and Allied. 550 families in 20 project areas have benefited from the project August/September 2012.
4. Goats and sheep were introduced for breeding purposes for the
first time in Agalega in Feb 2012 for 10 familesas community based project.
Project is supported by EMTEL and Agence Immedia. A second phase of
the project has started in November 2012. Training, materials/equipment,
animals are provided by MAA for the project. Shipment of materials and
animals is through the support of IODC for Mauritius Pride.logistics.
5. Salinity equipment measurement project in the South East.
6. Agroprocessing building at Peti Sables Has been completed
7. Construction of the weavers coordination unit and Pandanus museum at Vieux Grand Port is nearly completed.
2013
1.Egg micro projects for 50 families with 12 layers each and 125 families with 5 layers.
2.Evaluation of Egg projects over the island took place
3.Bac Household gardening project in 8 project areas (Chebel, Barclay, Albion, Canot, Gros Cailloux, Petite Riviere, Villemin, Terre de Paix) with the financial support of K-Force Foundation for 850 families.
4.Construction of Weavers center at Vieux Grand Port is over and Pandanus weavers under the Association des Artisans et Planteurs de Pandanus du Sud Est has started running the center with MAA support.
5.The 56 ft fishing vessel for Med Cooperative Society constructed under the aegis of MAA has reached the Port from Shrilanka in December 2013. Launching of the fishing campaign is expected in May/June 2014 after getting hold of the fishing license for Fishing Banks and its Inauguration. MAA facilitated and coordinated the project with the financial support of Food Security Fund of the Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security.
6.4000 layers were distributed from MAA farm for projects and 2000 compost bags were produced for the Bac Household Gardening projects.
7.Agalega: projects supported by Emtel/Agence Immedia
a.The second phase of sheep breeding project was implemented in May 2013 in the North Island. 25 ewes and 2 rams of the Rodriguan breed were sent to Agalega on the Mauritius Pride. At the end of 2013, 20 lambs were born.
b.A local poultry breeding program was implemented with 80 adults hens and 20 adult male.
c.In view to improve the nutritive value of the fodder system in Agalega, different grasses were sent to the island for planting and to propagate afterwards. Grasses sent were: Guatemala, Star grass, Setaria and Elephant grasses.
d.Household vegetables project for 20 families were implemented for North and South Islands. Agricultural Equipment, materials, seeds and training materials were sent by MAA.
e.MAA Technical visit to Agalega in May 2013
f.Planning new Sheep Breeding Program for the South Island in 2014
Collaboration with APSE( Association des Planteurs du Sud Est)
a.Production of 5 tons of seaweed compost which has replaced partially the use of chemical fertilizers by planters of the region
b.Salinity meters have been made available to planters of the South East Coastal lands to monitor the level of the salinity of their soil and crops tolerance in the context of sea level rise affecting coastal soil salinity with Climatic change.
2014
1. Sheep production in Agalega with the support of Agence Immedia/Emtel - a project implemented by MAA.
2. Local poultry production: 100 adult birds sent to Agalega for reproduction purposes
3. Gardening projects for 20 families in Agalega to improve consumption of vegetables on the island. Since the Trochetia vessel visits Agalega every 3/4 months to deliver provisions it is essential for the island community to be less dependent on deliveries and to rely more on their own production.
4. Egg projects extended to about 300 families
5 Bac Organic Gardening introduced to 700 families in collaboration with K Force Foundation.
6. 7 fishing outings at St Brandon to harvest a total of 28 tons of fish.
7. Introduction of Bac Gardening in 6 primary schools supported by Airports of Mauritius Ltd. (AML) with the authorization of the Ministry of Education and Human Resource, Tertiary Education and Scientidic Research.
8. Ominicane Gardening Project at Britannia Sugar Estate in collaboration with Omnicane Foundation and its Green leaders.
2015
1. Official inauguration of the School Bac Organic Gardening Projects at Mon Tresor Mon Desert by the Minister of Agro-industry and Food Security, The Honorary Mahen Seeruttun.
MAA - Mauritius NGO for self-sufficiency in food
2. Serenity fishing vessel: research work on fishing techniques in collaboration with the Ministry of Ocean Economy. Marine Resources, Fisheries Shipping & Outer Islands. The research team consists of the representatives of the Ministry of Fisheries of Seychelles, Rodrigues, Albion Fishing Research Station and Serenity team. 50 fishing baskets were prepared by the Serenity team for trial at St Brandon and Nazareth banks.
3. Upgrading of the Weavers Coordination Centre at Vieux Grand Port: building completed and Pandanus museum setup with the support of Food and Allied Group, MCB Foundation and Blue Penny Museum and coordinated by MAA.
4. Egg projects for 20 families of Anoska village at Mont Bois with the support of the Ministry of Gender Equality, Child Development and Family Welfare
5. Bac Organic Gardening projects for 40 familiew at Anoska village with the support of the Ministry of Agro-industry and Food Security.
6. Micro-egg projects for 15 families of Folle-herbe at Bamboo and 15 families of Cite St. Claire, Goodlands supported by the Ministry of Agro-industry and Food Security.