Mauritius is home to an amazing abundance of fresh and nutritious produce year-round. This natural bounty helps makes relocating to Mauritius an easy decision for many, especially those religiously following a healthy diet to maintain wellness and well-being.
Mauritius’s supply of its healthy farm produce is mainly sourced locally—from the island nation’s organic gardens and bio-farms. All of these domestic food sources are thriving because of robust and sustained government support.
The Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security along with other government and private agencies just last year launched a horticulture programme to further grow and encourage organic farming in the country. This initiative to eventually make Mauritius an organic island seeks to inspire farmers and backyard horticulturists to grow vegetables without using any chemical fertilizers, pesticides and other potentially harmful synthetic farm inputs.
Fresh produce direct from local bio-farms help make relocating in Mauritius a smart choice
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Government incentives for bio-farms
This most recent initiative is an offshoot of the Bio Farming Promotion Scheme that the Ministry of Agro-Industry launched in May 2016. Under this scheme, eligible farmers can enjoy fiscal and financial incentives including liberal project financing, VAT exemption on agricultural inputs and equipment, as well as an 8-year income tax holiday.
This scheme has scored a significant success, as shown in the ministry’s most recent estimates that 50 per cent of Mauritian farmers have adopted bio-farming and reaped rewards from its advantages in sustainability. The ministry expects that most of the country’s farmers would turn as disciples of sustainable farming by 2030, which is in line with the timetable set under the Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations.
Significantly, the bio-farms in Mauritius also have become unique tourist attractions. Folks just relocating to Mauritius are likely to find Mauritian agri-tourism as a source of curiosity. There are many local tours that give visitors a first-hand experience in bio-farming.
Immerse in organic farms and markets
One leading destination for such tours is the Farmcity in Bois Rouge, Pamplemousses. The visitors of this farm between Grand Baie and Port Louis can interact in family-friendly activities to learn more about organic agriculture. A tour of Farmcity provides not only the basics of bio-farming but also allows experiencing the joy of harvesting healthy farm produce. This destination is also noted for its unique farm-to-table experience allowing visitors to forage for the ingredients that farm’s chef will prepare for ordered meals.
Organic fruits and vegetables are now also special treats at the farmers’ markets that have recently become popular in Mauritius. One of the first of these markets—the Cascavelle Shopping Village—is located in Flic-en-Flac on the western coast of Mauritius. Open on Saturdays and Sundays, it offers not only organic fruits and vegetables but also flowers and wellness and beauty products made of natural ingredients, as well as local handicraft.
On Saturdays, fans of organic foods proceed to the campus of the high school Lycée des Mascareignes in the Moka District. The farmers’ market here is open from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., selling more besides organic farm produce. Its offerings also include gluten-free products, chocolate, honey, meat, deli, cheeses, yoghurt, bread, and cakes. All the fruits and vegetables in this farmers’ market are certified under either standard-setting BioLokal or Ecocert group, thereby adding a guaranteed healthy and tasty perk for those relocating in Mauritius.
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