Budget 2025-2026: Agro Industry

In line with its commitment to ensuring long-term food security and promoting sustainable agricultural development, the Government has allocated Rs 800 million in the Budget 2025-2026 to support farmers, planters, and breeders across the country.

A central feature of this vision is the promotion of innovative and climate-resilient agricultural practices. A new Food Resilience Scheme will be launched to support controlled environment agriculture, including:

• Vertical farming techniques;
• Indoor, climate-controlled agricultural systems; and
• Advanced methods in the production of seeds and fertilisers.

These initiatives are designed to increase productivity, mitigate climate-related risks, and ensure a consistent, high-quality food supply.

Moreover, the budget provides for the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to support Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the food production sector. This move will help modernise operations, enhance food safety standards, and promote efficiency across the value chain.

Strategic Use of Land Resources

The Government also recognises the critical role of land in achieving food security and efficient resource management. Several key initiatives are being implemented to optimise land utilisation:

• The Digital Twin Mauritius Project will offer a detailed digital view of the country’s land resources, helping to improve land use planning, support informed decision-making, and better coordinate agricultural and infrastructure development.
• Landscope Mauritius will play a strategic role in mobilising land for the development of food security initiatives, ensuring alignment with national priorities and sustainable use of available resources.

To further incentivise productive land use, the Government is introducing a New Land Repurposing Scheme. Under this scheme, owners of small agricultural plots will be exempted from the Land Conversion Permit when their land is used for alternative strategic investment projects as defined by the scheme.

In parallel, the Government is taking steps to enhance environmental conservation by amending the Forest and Reserve Act to support afforestation efforts under the Mauritius Biomass Initiative. This initiative will not only promote biodiversity but also ensure the long-term ecological health of the country’s forests and reserves.

In keeping with the Government’s policy of support for traditional sectors, a guaranteed minimum revenue has been established for sugarcane planters. For the 2025 crop, those producing up to 60 tonnes of sugar will benefit from a guaranteed income of Rs 35,000 per tonne, inclusive of bagasse and molasses.

These strategic measures aim to:

• Strengthen national food sovereignty and reduce dependence on food imports.
• Promote technological modernisation in agriculture, enhancing resilience and competitiveness.
• Improve land use planning and efficiency through the use of digital innovation.
• Foster inclusive growth by supporting small-scale producers; and
• Build a future-ready, sustainable agricultural ecosystem that meets the needs of both current and future generations.