Seychelles Food Week |14 October 2020

The signing of the agreement (Photo: Anel Robert)

Youths allocated land for farming

Fisheries and Agriculture Minister Charles Bastienne launched an exciting project, La Semence, Youth Farming Enterprise, yesterday at Au Cap.

Under this project, funded under the Livestock Trust Fund, a dozen youths selected by a committee have been allocated plots of around 3,000m² to 3,500m² at Au Cap for agricultural development.

The new initiative was approved by government in 2019, and seeks to encourage youth with an interest in agriculture to develop and grow by making available to them resources including land and infrastructure, in return for quality produce and active involvement in the agricultural sectors.

Seven applicants will be benefitting from plots at Au Cap, while the other five applicants, are to be allocated plots at Val d’Andorre.

“We are preparing the land and it should be ready for our young farmers to start in two or three weeks. As you can see, it is flat land, one of the last plots of flat agricultural land on Mahé. Each youth is to benefit from at least 3,000m² and I think the plots are of adequate size for them to manage their businesses properly,” explained Minister Bastienne.

“The programme is long term and one which we need to continually build on. In fact we are in the process to identify other potential plots, not necessarily flat, for our youths to cultivate. At least 70 percent of our farmers are over 50 years old so it is more than time we give our youths the opportunity that they have been thirsting for, and I think they will not disappoint us,” Minister Bastienne added.

The ministry’s vision is to grow the programme to accommodate youths who want to go into livestock and rearing of animals.

Minister Bastienne is urging all youths with an interest in agriculture to register for the programme and access numerous opportunities for personal development, and others such as financing opportunities through the Development Bank of Seychelles (DBS) and Enterprise Seychelles Agency (Esa).

Young farmer Joachim Barrack signed the symbolic agreement alongside principal secretary for agriculture Antoine Marie Moustache.

Lionel Lucie, who is 32 years old and has spent much of his life in agriculture, is elated to have been selected under the project.

“I feel really happy as I have been waiting for quite some time and I have persevered. Now with the pandemic, we need more food in the country and it also provides me the opportunity to prove that we can supply the community. I will grow organic food, leafy vegetables and starchy foods which is healthier and will help us cut costs,” he said.

Laura Pillay