small farmers, he will, for the benefit of the House, obtain from the Small Farmers Welfare Fund, informatio…
(No. B/188) Mr J. F. François (Second Member for Rodrigues) asked the Minister of Agro-Industry, Food Security, Blue Economy and Fisheries whether, in regard to small farmers, he will, for the benefit of the House, obtain from the Small Farmers Welfare Fund, information as to the number of registered farmers from mainland Mauritius, Rodrigues Island and Agalega, respectively, over the past five years, indicating the number of farmers of Rodrigues Island – (a) awaiting renewal of their farmers' cards and the expected delivery dates thereof, and (b) benefiting from the Smart Agri-Business Programme, the Farm Production Support Programme, the Risk Management Programme and the Quality-of-Life Programme, respectively.
Thank you very much, hon. François. Madam Speaker, I am informed that farmers are registered with the Small Farmers Welfare Fund in line with Section 16 of the Small Farmers Welfare Fund. Upon their registration, the farmers are provided with a farmer’s card which give them access to facilities and schemes provided by government. The farmer’s card is renewed every two years. There are currently 12,047 farmers registered with the Small Farmers Welfare Fund in Mauritius, and 1,067 farmers registered from Rodrigues. There are no farmers from Agalega registered with the Small Farmers Welfare Fund. With your permission, Madam Speaker, I will table the number of farmers registered with the Small Farmers Welfare Fund for Mauritius and Rodrigues for the last five years, as compiled by the Small Farmers Welfare Fund. As regards part (a), Madam Speaker, I am informed that as at date the Small Farmers Welfare Fund has already sent the 1,067 farmer’s card to the Commission for Agriculture of Rodrigues Regional Assembly for distribution to all farmers who had applied for renewal. Now, the renewal of the farmer’s card for additional farmers would be considered as and when they would apply for renewal. I understand that the Commission for Agriculture has already delivered 609 cards, and the remaining will be delivered within the next two weeks. With regard to part (b), Madam Speaker, I am further informed by the Small Farmers Welfare Fund that a total of 412 registered farmers has benefited from the Small Agri- business Programme, the Farm Production Support Programme, the Risk Management Programme, and the Quality-of-Life Programme over the last five years. I will table the details of all the beneficiaries.
Yes, hon. François!
Merci, l’honorable ministre, pour la rapidité dans l’action après ma question de vendredi dernier. Hier, à Rodrigues, quelques éleveurs et planteurs ont reçu leurs cartes tant attendues depuis longtemps. An hon. Member: Bravo!
Wow!
Est-ce que l’honorable ministre peut confirmer à la Chambre si la SFWF remettra des cartes to all the 1,423 planters, the 424 éleveurs et les 3,027 éleveurs et planteurs de Rodrigues d’ici la fin de l’année ?
This is a tall question, but if you insist and you impress upon me, I will certainly convey the strong signals of a friend and tell them that they have to bow to the legitimate request made by the hon. Member from Rodrigues.
Wow! Thank you, hon. Minister. Thank you. I like this!
Hon. Minister, may I know how much it costs, if you have the information, per year by a farmer for their registration with the SFWF to obtain a farmer’s card.
I will advise you to peruse the document what I will lay on the Table.
Il est insatiable. The hon. Second for Member Mahebourg & Plaine Magnien! BATS – POPULATION INCREASE – CULLING EXERCISE