Anse à la Mouche farmers and producers get own market |24 October 2022
Unveiling the association’s logo
After many years of struggle, the Anse à la Mouche farmers and producers have got their own market.
The market was inaugurated on Saturday by Nelson Renaud from the Local Food Producers Association (LFPA) in the presence of the Minister for Agriculture, Climate Change & Environment, Flavien Joubert; the French ambassador, Olivia Berkeley-Christmann; the principal secretary for agriculture, Keven Nancy; the MNA for Baie Lazare, François Adelaide; representatives from ‘Ridge to Reef’, UNDP-GEF and members of the LFPA.
Already many inhabitants were waiting for the official ceremony to be over to start buying their fresh vegetables and fruits, eggs, piglets, local jam, fresh coconuts and even ‘baka’.
The vendors were all delighted to have such a facility and they all said they will work hard to make the bazar an ongoing event where Anse à la Mouche residents get another facility to buy their products.
An emotional Nelson Renaud addressed the crowd and shared that without the help of GEF grant fund, the Ridge to Reef, the Ministry of Agriculture and AGRISUD they would not have been able to raise enough funds to build such a facility.
“The LFPA has been in existence for six years and our journey has been difficult but we have persisted. Transparency, trust and mutual support have always been the greatest values of LFPA. Today is a big step for the agricultural sector but also for the associative sector. Agriculture must be defined as the backbone of a country’s economy as we have seen how the recent years made us realise how dependent we are on foreign countries. We are living in a period where resilience is very important, we absolutely have to adapt our behaviour and strengthen our local economy.”
Mr Renaud noted that having this ‘bazar’ will help the community as they hope giving local producers the opportunity to sell their products and help the association become fully sustainable.
Minister Joubert congratulated the Association for being able to deliver such a project on its own. “The aim of the association is to make sure that all its members benefit from the projects. It is very important for all of us to work together as we are witnessing varying climate changes and also varying economic conditions. The ministry is looking thoroughly how to include the farmers/producers with the local market and for this to happen, we need to have more outlets. We are also looking into the integration of the farmers in the tourism industry. The ministry will do its best to back up the producers and will make sure that we all benefit. If there was no collaboration, we would not see the realisation of such a project and I encourage other associations to come forward with such projects.”
Immediately after the opening, the ambiance changed and people were rushing to get their veggies and fruits. A long awaited bazar said the elders of the community!
Vidya Gappy
Photos: Louis Toussaint
