Republic of Mauritius- Winter Allowance to tea planters doubles in 2019

An amount of approximately Rs 10 million was handed over to the Small Farmers Welfare Fund and the organisation effected payment of the Winter Tea Allowance to more than 1 000 tea growers.

In his address, the Agro-Industry Minister stated that the tea industry is experiencing a growth of 7% per annum and this figure is bound to increase in the forthcoming years. Since 2015, Government has been working towards the revival of the tea sector and today this sector comprises some 1 200 tea growers, 1 500 arpents under tea cultivation and an annual tea production of around 1 700 tons, representing an increase of 32% as compared to the 2016-2017 production.

He underlined that Government is also taking necessary additional measures to enhance the environment in order to attract more investors in the tea sector, which will help increase the dynamism in the sector for it to further flourish. He added that, as the local industry is being buoyed up by the increasing tea demand, Government is also working with the Food and Agriculture Organization for the branding of the Mauritian tea as a pesticide free product with unique health benefits.

Moreover, with regards to facilities offered to tea planters, Minister Seeruttun stated that they will also benefit from the concessionary road tax allowance on double cab pick-ups as is the case for other planters. They can also receive cuttings from a nursery in La Brasserie to be planted again after the harvest.