Yes, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir. I am informed that the Saint Antoine Planters Cooperative Trust was set up following the closure of Saint Antoine Sugar Factory under the Saint Antoine Planters Cooperative Trust Act No. 28 of 1994. It became operational in March 1996. The purpose was to provide financial and material support to planters who previously delivered sugar cane to that factory. The Trust receives and manages funds contributed by the Compagnie Sucrière de Saint Antoine Limitée. The funds are exclusively used for the benefit of planters in the ex-Saint Antoine factory area in accordance with the object set out in the Act. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, with regard to part (a) of the question, I am tabling the composition of the Board which was reconstituted on 10 October 2025. With regard to part (b) of the question, I am informed that the actual fund of the Trust amounts to Rs88 million, out of which, the Trust holds savings account totalling to around Rs6.3 million and a current account of Rs200,000 and the rest are fixed deposit. The Trust is entitled to expenses reasonably incurred in the management of the fund, provided that the expenses do not, in any year, exceed 1% of the net current value of the fund. I am further informed that the Trust continues to manage its financial resources prudently in accordance with the provisions of the Act as established financial procedures. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, with regard to part (c) of the question, I am informed that the Trust operates several loan schemes, grant schemes and support projects for the benefit of planters in the ex-Saint Antoine Sugar Factory area, which includes Goodlands and surrounding regions. The following measures and action plan are envisaged up to December 2026; for loan schemes, the technical subcommittee of the Trust reviewed the existing loan scheme in February 2026 in view of the increasing cost of sugarcane cultivation and recommended revised rates for crop year 2026. The revised proposals include increases in the ceiling for new plantation loans, derocking loans, one-year crop loans and loans for the purchase of agricultural equipment and transport facilities. These proposals were approved by the Board on 5 March 2026 and are operational as from March 2026. However, no application has yet been received. As regards to grant schemes, I am apprised that the Trust presently operates a grant for cutting, loading and transport, a grant for the purchase of sprayers and a fertiliser grant for new plantation. With regard to the grant of cutting, loading and transport, I am informed that for crop 2025, 70 planters have benefited a total amount of Rs324,000. For crop 2025, 27 additional applications have been received amounting to 185,000 which have been favourably considered at the board meeting held on the 26 May this year. If the Trust receives more applications, they will definitely be entertained. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, with regard to projects and schemes implemented specifically in Goodlands over the period 2015 and 2024, I am informed that the Trust does not implement projects for specific village or region in isolation. All projects and schemes are implemented for the benefit of planters within the entire ex-Saint Antoine Sugar Factory area, which includes Goodlands and surrounding regions. Nevertheless, I am informed that projects and schemes have been executed in Goodlands region as part of the wider area for road mending works during the period 2016- 2017 to facilitate access to agricultural fields for the conveyance of sugarcane. The total amount disbursed under road mending projects in the Goodlands area and other regions came up to around Rs991,000 for a total of 2,480 metres for roads repaired as at June 2016, and Rs1.2 million for a total of 4,050 metres for roads repaired as at June 2017. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am informed that planters in Goodlands, as part of ex-St Antoine Sugar Factory area, benefited from grant schemes relating to cutting, loading and transport, fertilisers and sprayers during the period 2016-2024, amounting to approximately Rs1.4 million. Whilst for the purchase of sprayers and fertilisers an approximate amount of Rs15,000 and Rs73,000 were granted. Furthermore, over the same period, road mending projects undertaken at Goodlands for 2,530 metres of roads for an approximate amount of Rs593,000.

Yes, hon. Beejan!

Thank you, Deputy Speaker, Sir. Can the hon. Minister inform the House whether the Board has conducted any formal consultation, survey or meeting with planters to identify their priorities or needs? If not, will consideration be given?

Yes, there was a technical sub-committee that met, on 09 February this year, to review areas of concern for planters, for example, loan schemes, grant schemes among others. I must say that should any request be made, projects and schemes that would be executed in Goodlands, for any particular project to be submitted in the future, they may favourably be entertained by the Trust, provided they fall within the authorised financial parameters.

Last question!

My last supplementary. In view of the importance of agriculture in the northern region, will the hon. Minister indicate whether the Board has established measurable targets and key performance indicators for the next financial year?

Yes, indeed. It came to my attention that this year, the technical sub- committee further recommended that the grant for cutting, loading and transport be increased from Rs100 to Rs150 per tonne of cane produced for Crop Year 2026, given the rising operational cost faced by planters. This measure will be effective as from 01 July, that is, next month. Concerning the mechanisation support, the Trust has apprised that this year the technical sub-committee has also initiated discussion on the forthcoming measures to assist planters in mechanising their lands to benefit from mechanical harvesting facilities, and further consultation are being held on this matter.

The hon. Second Member for Mahebourg and Plaine Magnien! PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTIONS – VASCULAR, CARDIOVASCULAR SURGEONS & INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGISTS