Farmers take action to counter threat of imports |27 January 2011

Seyfa’s annual general meeting on Monday

At its annual general meeting on Monday, the Seychelles Farmers’ Association (Seyfa) said marketing efforts are being stepped up and talks held with a new supermarket and hotels interested in selling local produce.

The meeting at Anse Royale was also attended by Minister for Investment, Natural Resources and Industry Peter Sinon.

Seyfa chairman Serge Benstrong said the farming sector is now being badly hit by a number of factors, including the total liberalisation of meats – notably broiler chicken and pork – the negative effects of climate change and high operational costs.

Figures for last year show that locally produced chicken represents just 26% of national consumption. For pork the figure is 37%, and the balance in both cases is imported.

Mr Benstrong said even with all the extra costs added to imported meat, including the R5 per kg levy and 15% goods and services tax, imported broilers are still selling for not much more than R30 a kilo.

Local chicken, however, costs R44 a kilo as local farmers have to grapple with high operational costs such as expensive animal feed, electricity and water.

The situation is made worse by the fact that local broilers are usually sold in 1.5kg sizes. This makes them unaffordable to some consumers, who prefer to buy the cheaper, smaller birds from Brazil.

Out of 12 licensed broiler chicken farmers, 10 ceased operations last year while the two others scaled down their activities.

Climate change and its negative effects remain among the biggest challenges to farmers, especially those engaged in vegetable production, the meeting heard.

They could be further affected if the poultry industry is allowed to collapse, since the two are closely linked. Most vegetable growers use manure from chicken farms.

However, Mr Benstrong urged farmers not to give up. On the marketing side, he said Seyfa has already acquired four stalls at the southern end of Victoria market, near Benezet Street. One is being turned into a sales outlet for chicken and pork, while others will be used as processing units, such as cutting meat into parts and making other products.

He said negotiations have been ongoing with the Géant Casino hypermarket – set to open soon under a different name – which is interested in selling local farm products.  Talks have also been held with the Seychelles Hospitality and Tourism Association, whose members, too, have expressed an interest in buying locally.

Mr Benstrong urged Seychellois farmers to be consistent in their supply and to meet the required quality standards.

Some members wanted to know what is happening to the fund raised by the levy charged on imported broiler chickens.

Mr Benstrong explained that the fund now stands at R11 million and is being spent on infrastructure, such as equipping the new outlet at Victoria market and ugrading the abatttoir.

Mr Sinon said it is clear the agricultural sector is facing many difficulties. He has arranged to meet Seyfa every quarter, adding that in urgent cases his door is always open.

Also at the Seyfa AGM, new executive members were elected as follows:

Serge Benstrong chairperson, Garry Coopoosamy vice-chairperson, David Marie treasurer, Jeanne D’Arc Marie secretary, Beryl Payet commodity (sub-committee) chairperson, Andre Sopha inner islands, and ordinary members Cyril Roucou, Rose Mary Emond and Barry Emmanuel.   
They will serve a mandate of two years.