Linn sove ?

Qu’est-ce qui se passe ? The hon. Minister is not here?

(Interruptions)

It is all right. We will wait for you. Il se fait desirer. So, I call again, hon. First Member for Vacoas & Floréal.

B/997.

I convey my apologies to you, Madam Speaker, and to the hon. Member.

Accepted.

Thank you very much. Now, Madam Speaker, I am informed by the Food and Agricultural Research and Extension Institute that as per figures available, the 2025 potato crop harvest was considered to have been satisfactory. The House may wish to note that in 2025, local potato production reached 50,040 tons from a total cultivated area of 682.4 hectares with an average yield of 22 tons per hectare compared to the 10-year average yield of 21.6 tons per hectare. Over the last 10 years, 2014 to 2024, the average annual potato production stood at approximately 15,460 tons. These figures demonstrate that national potato production in 2025 remained broadly in line with historical performance, notwithstanding the occurrence of localised crop failure in certain regions during the second potato planting season 2025.

Madam Speaker, …

Yes?

Excuse me, but …

On n’entend pas. On n’entend pas.

Je pense qu'on lui a donné...

Non, le ministre n'a pas fini !

Oui, je sais. Mais je pense qu'on lui a donné la mauvaise réponse parce que, vous pouvez voir, ma question concerne précisément les potato seeds provided by the AMB.

Yes, I am coming to it, mademoiselle.

But he is talking about the potato production.

Mademoiselle?

It is not the same.

Let him finish. Then, you can come back.

If I can advise the hon. Member to hold her horses. I am coming to it. There is no need to rush.

Mais si ! Le temps est limité. Le temps est limité !

All right. All right.

No, you still have a bit of time. Come on. Try and be precise.

Yes. Thank you very much. Okay, I will come straight to it. Now, I am informed that 73 potato planters were affected in specific regions. The extent of the damage varied from slight to severe depending on individual plantations. Overall, the production loss in the affected areas represented approximately 10% of national potato production. I am further informed that FAREI with its extension service carried out extensive field visits to determine the causes of the crop failure, and provided appropriate technical advice to the affected potato planters. I am additionally informed that FAREI conducted 22 pest and disease surveys in the affected area regions as part of its technical assessment. With your permission, Madam Speaker, I am tabling a copy of the assessment report prepared by FAREI for the benefit of the House. I am informed, Madam Speaker, by AMB that several corrective measures have already been implemented for the campaign 2026, namely – 1. The importation of elite seed potato instead of class A seed potatoes. 2. Sourcing seed potatoes exclusively from internationally recognised and reputable suppliers in France and in Netherlands. 3. Strengthening phytosanitary import controls to ensure higher quality seed potatoes. 4. Implementing a joint inspection mechanism involving the National Plant Protection Office and FAREI at both importation and field levels. 5. Appointing an independent international seed potato surveyor to inspect consignments at origin prior to shipment. 6. Requiring suppliers to carry out seed treatment before shipment. 7. Improving cold chain management to preserve seed quality throughout transportation, shortage and distribution. 8. Strengthening the traceability of seed potatoes from importation to plantation. I can also inform the House that following necessary financial clearance obtained before the close of financial year 2025-2026, a comprehensive package of support has been put in place for the affected potato planters under campaign 2025 as well as potato planters for campaign 2026 so as to strengthen agricultural production during financial year 2026- 2027. This comprises measures financed by my Ministry as well as additional financial assistance provided by AMB. In this respect, my Ministry has identified savings of Rs14.5 million from its voted budget for financial year 2025-2026 to be deployed as financial assistance to top up the floor price payable to potato and onion planters under campaign 2025. This measure is being implemented through AMB. Now, in order to ensure fair and adequate support to the potato planters for campaign 2025, AMB will, accordingly, proceed to top up by Rs7,000 per ton for grade 1 potatoes and by Rs3,000 s for mixed grade potatoes. Previously, in 2025, AMB paid an interim floor price for potatoes of Rs35,000 per ton for grade 1 potatoes and Rs33,000 per ton for mixed grade. Madam Speaker, in addition, I am informed by AMB that as regards crop failure affecting potato planters under campaign 2025, 47 satisfied the eligibility criteria for the reimbursement of cost of seeds. These criteria required that the seed potatoes had been purchased directly from AMB and planted within 21 days of purchase. Second, a further 17 planters did not initially qualify because they planted the seeds beyond the recommended 21-day period. Nevertheless, in view of the legitimate representations made and on humanitarian ground, I requested the AMB to develop an appropriate support package for those 17 affected potato planters. The remaining nine planters were not eligible because they had neither purchased their seeds from AMB and had planted them well outside the recommended planting season. To date, an amount of Rs3.13 million has already been disbursed by AMB for reimbursement for seed losses, while a further Rs174,000 is currently being processed by AMB. Madam Speaker, together with MP from the constituencies of 13 and 16, I had a meeting on 06 July 2026 with affected potato planters of the campaign 2025 at the head of AMB’s office during which I announced that a payment amounting to Rs85,000 per arpent will be provided directly by AMB to the 64 affected planters to assist them in meeting part of the production cost. This gesture of goodwill will amount to approximately Rs13.7 million and will be financed directly by AMB on an exceptional one-off basis. It will constitute full and final payment in respect of this matter. This financial support provided by the AMB is in line with Government's objective of supporting local agricultural production. Madam Speaker, I am informed by AMB that notwithstanding the prevailing limited fiscal space, a series of accompanying measures has been developed as summarised below – (i) for campaign 2026, for all potato growers, Rs76,200 per arpent, that is the 75% subsidy on seed potato; (ii) for campaign 2025, for all potato growers, with financial assistance to top up floor price payment, Rs56,000 per arpent for grade one potatoes and Rs24,000 per arpent for mixed grade potatoes; (iii) for campaign 2025, for affected potato growers only, Rs25,400 per arpent, reimbursed by AMB on the cost of seed potatoes, and (iv) of course, the cherry on the cake for campaign 2025, for affected growers only, Rs85,000 per arpent. Madam Speaker, this therefore represents a fair, adequate and substantial package of Government support. It is intended not only to provide meaningful relief to the affected planters, but also to restore confidence among potato planters, safeguard domestic potato production and further strengthen our national food security.

Thank you. Yes.

Merci. L’honorable ministre considère comme fair la compensation proposée.

Question !

Mais il est bien au courant que les planteurs qui ont assisté à la réunion hier ne sont pas du tout satisfaits. Donc, par rapport à la compensation proposée pour le coût de production de pommes de terre, est-ce que l’honorable ministre pourrait expliquer à la Chambre la méthode de calcul utilisée. Comment est-ce que son ministère est arrivé à proposer une compensation pour le coût de production de pommes de terre, une compensation de R 50,000 par arpent, puis de R 85,000 par arpent, alors que les planteurs et la FAREI, elle-même, estiment à plus de R 200,000 par arpent le coût de production de pommes de terre. Comment est-ce qu’il est arrivé à ce calcul et est-ce qu'il trouve cela vraiment fair à la lumière de ces chiffres ?

Madam Speaker, even the most beautiful person cannot give what she does not have or he does not have. Now, in the light of complaints registered by planters, as a responsible Government, we have levelled up to our responsibility and to meet the needs of planters to a large extent. In relation as to how it was calculated, it was calculated by the best of human resources who are in daily touch with the planters. You know, I know planters as much as probably you do not know, right? But I can tell you, they are very emotional.

… la même arrogance !

Chut! Let him answer!

Hold on a minute, please! Hold on your horses. They are emotional but they will come to better terms and we have had good interactive meetings. All our friends from the different constituencies were relatively happy in relation to what we have offered. Of course, if we can make a better disbursement, so much it will be done.

Okay.

Une question s’il vous plait.

Oui.

Pourrait-il éclairer la Chambre ? D'abord, permettez-moi de regretter à chaque fois cette même arrogance. La dernière fois quand j'ai abordé ce sujet-là, c'était la même chose. Ce n'est pas pour moi que je parle, je parle pour les planteurs. Je ne suis pas là pour m'amuser. Pourrait-il éclairer la Chambre sur la quantité de semence défectueuse qui sont concernées ? Quel est le montant total des pertes encourues par l'AMB ? Et est-ce que ce montant a été réclamé au fournisseur des semences défectueuses comme le ministre lui-même l'a envisagé sur sa page Facebook ?

Yes. Certainly, to some extent it can be done, okay? But it will not get the total loss. Now, I will impress upon the hon. Member that all the hon. Members from different constituencies are in touch with the members of the planting community. Being in touch with members of the planting community is not the privilege of one or of a few. It is the privilege of one and all and we are doing our level best to respond to the needs of planters.

Répondez à la question !

That is enough. That is it! Hon…

Il ne répond pas, Madam Speaker.

On ne peut pas l’obliger s'il ne veut pas répondre. Ça va être dans le public, c'est tout.

D’accord, je peux avoir une dernière question ?

Je ne peux pas l'obliger à dire plus que ça. Allez, dernière question.

Je regrette quand même qu'on n'ait pas eu de montant ni de chiffre. Est-ce que l’honorable ministre peut confirmer qu'il existe depuis 2023 un rapport de la FAREI qui avait déjà signifié les mauvaises conditions de stockage des semences et pourquoi rien n'a été fait jusqu'ici suite à la publication de ce rapport ?

If the hon. Lady had paid heed to what I stated, this is an issue which is being addressed in a very forceful and meaningful manner by Agricultural Marketing Board. I would advise you to read carefully all the measures which are being dispensed to members of the planting community.

C’est arrivé de nouveau !

Ça suffit! Hon. Member, please.

2023 sa rapor la.

Rien n’a…

Let me proceed! We have got perhaps one more question to go. Okay. Hon. Second Member for Mahebourg and Plaine Magnien, please. RAINWATER HARVESTING GRANT SCHEME – BENEFICIARIES – EXTENSION