Thank you very much. I thank the hon. First Member Port Louis North and Montagne Longue who put this question. Madam Speaker, Government policy regarding pig breeding industry is to have a modernised, resilient and sustainable pig breeding sector that prioritises strict biosecurity, public health and environmental protection and management. Although pig breeding contributes to food security and income generation. The sector faces structural, sanitary, environmental and economic challenges as well as regulatory issues that threaten its long- term viability. Pig breeding at Saint Martin comprises of two phases. At the phase one, approximately 4.22 hectares of State land are leased since 1986 by the Ministry of Housing and Lands to the Mauritius Pig Marketing Cooperative Federation, and around 43 breeders currently operate on the site with an estimated pig population of 3,790 heads. As regards phase two, it accommodates approximately 10,905 pigs for 152 farmers. In fact, the site was initially designed for 88 pig houses, each with a capacity of 75 to 100 pigs over 25 arpents of State land, for which the EIA license was granted. However, during the past few years, operations have expanded beyond the scope of the EIA to cover 205 plots within 25 arpents to cater for additional pig breeding activities. Madam Speaker, waste management remains the most pressing issue in pig breeding, particularly at St Martin phase two, where there is no pig waste treatment facility and drainage system for pig waste. Breeders dispose of pig waste on site through pits that often overflow. With a view to addressing the challenges being faced in the pig breeding sector, an Inter-Ministerial Committee has been set up on 20th February 2026, chaired by hon. Shakeel Mohamed, comprising my Ministry, Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change, Ministry of Energy and Public Utilities, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, and two meetings have been held on 05 March and 04 June 2026. Madam Speaker, in my reply to Parliamentary Question B/893 on 02 June 2026, I stated that an Expression of Interest for the collection of pig waste and its transformation into energy was launched by my Ministry, wherein two companies showed interest. One of them proposed that treatment of pig waste could be undertaken in-house at its water treatment plant. After evaluation of the two proposals, the Ministry is currently working on the scope of works for the launching of an open advertised bidding. Hon. Fabrice David, Junior Minister of the Ministry, has been delegated to chair a Technical Committee on the conversion of pig waste to energy and a first committee was held on 23 March 2026. A site visit was held on 01 July 2026 at the Energie des Mascareignes, regarding its waste to energy conversion plant, and a further meeting was held on 02 July 2026 to discuss the feasibility of the project. In addition, at the Inter-Ministerial Committee, it was agreed that the Ministry of Health and Wellness would amend the Public Health Act to regulate the use of swill feed for the upgrading of the quality of meat, in consultation with all relevant stakeholders. It was also agreed that the Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change would work on amendments to the Environment Act 2024, regarding number of pigs required for preliminary environment application. Madam Speaker, for Financial Year 2026-2027, Rs10 million have been provided to cater for cleaning of the waste treatment system at St Martin phase two, and cleaning and rehabilitation of storm water drain at St Martin phase two. In addition, a task force has been set by the Ministry of Agro-Industry, Food Security, Blue Economy and Fisheries to address inter alia – (i) advise on the development of sustainable pig breeding sector; (ii) develop a comprehensive policy on pig waste management, and (iii) formulate a policy on pig feed. In addition, I effected a site visit on Wednesday 01 July 2026, in the presence of officers of the Ministry and the pig breeders to take stock of the current situation thereat, wherein pig breeders were invited to collaborate with the authorities in order to address the various issues. A meeting will be held in two weeks’ time with the breeders to follow up on the developments in relation to this specific matter. Madam Speaker, Mauritius being a service-based economy, where tourism plays a significant role, it is important that there is a proper management of pig waste to prevent environmental degradation and river pollution, and address bio-safe security concern. Therefore, the Division of Veterinary Services has been requested to work out the optimum number of pigs that is required for the population. Thereafter, the number of pig breeders will be limited accordingly and they may be requested to diversify into other breeding activities. Furthermore, application for new permits is not being granted for pig breeding for the time being. And as from tomorrow, there will be a team going to go on opération nettoyage in St Martin.

Very good. This is the last question.

Only one or two?

Put your first one. Let us see.

Okay.

Put your question!

Okay. L'honorable ministre peut-il dire qu'avec 1.4 million de touristes par an, l'industrie porcine mérite de meilleures considérations et qu'il faut une assise sur l'avenir de ce secteur à Maurice ?

Il vient de répondre!

I totally subscribe to what the hon. Lady has said. In fact, I would invite inputs from her and within the next two weeks, the hon. DPM will also attend that meeting. We will have a good interactive session with our friends from the pig breeding community and you are most welcomed to join us.

Okay, we will end here. We are already late. Now, the Table has been advised that the following PQs have been withdrawn: B/1002, B/1003, B/1004, B/1005, B/1007, B/1011, B/1013, B/1015 and B/1016.