Bio-diversity

The main aim of the project is to set up an - Atelier de Savoir Agricole that will provide capacity development to twenty young people (aged between 16-25 years) who are either drop outs of the mainstream academic system or coming from pre-vocational schools so as to empower them with necessary skills and capabilities to undertake small agri-business unit development. Many of these young boys and girls come from broken families and do not have the necessary skills to secure a job and are highly affected by unemployment. The Atelier de Savoirs has developed adaptive training and learning methods to impart these youth with the required knowledge, skills and attitudes to become autonomous in life. As is the case with the already four existing Ateliers de Savoirs, the core programme consists of modules in Mathematics, Communication Skills, Work Ethics, Nutrition, Management, Sexual Reproductive Health, Entrepreneurship and moral values. The modules involve direct teaching such as lessons, demonstrations, assignments, tutorials and work placements. For the time being, certificates of attendance are issued to the trainees but henceforth necessary actions are being taken in order to secure certification from Mauritius Qualifications Authority for the trainees. Recruitment of students will be done on a yearly basis and the course duration will be for three years. The initiative of setting up a fifth Atelier de Savoirs is inspired by the success of the already four existing Ateliers and aims this time at offering training in agriculture which is a crucial economic sector for Rodrigues and where there is a great need for training. Indeed transmission of knowledge and know-how in the sector is no longer made from parents to children and there is a need for training institutions to ensure training of the new generations of farmers. The four existing Atelier de Savoirs managed by the Rodrigues Youth Regional Council provide training in the following specialisation: sewing and cloth making; auto/motor mechanic and metal work; wood work and pastry. The project for this fifth one consists in offering a specialisation in organic farming to promote sustainable and efficient crop production and animal rearing with a view to address the many challenges that agriculture sector is facing in Rodrigues: climate change, land degradation, small size of agribusiness unit, shortage of water, .It is important to note that there are already trainers available in Rodrigues but they need to have an advanced training in organic farming. Training will therefore be provided to two trainers in Mauritius by institutions which have recognised competencies in organic farming. The project will be implemented at La Fouche Mangues in the western region of Rodrigues, renowned for its livestock farming activities and where there is a deficit of training institutions. The trainees of the Atelier will benefit from the local expertise in agriculture and animal rearing. There is a reservoir at Mar chal that can provide regular water supply to the Atelier. Water from a stream about 50 m away from the project area (6090 m2) will also be tapped when available for the project. In addition, provision is also being made for the installation of a rain water harvesting system. Two major characteristics of Ateliers de Savoirs are that they deliver practical and professional training in a given trade and are predominantly self-funded through the selling of the products and services they produce. In the Ateliers de Savoirs Agricole the trainees will mainly learn to practice organic farming, both crop cultivation and animal husbandry (poultry) on small scale. The vegetables and eggs that will be produced at the Atelier de Savoir Agricole will be supplied to the Atelier de Savoir of Malabar which is specialised in pastry and runs a cafeteria at Malabar. The surpluses will be sold through other avenues namely: the Rodrigues Trade and Marketing Company (RTMC) or the general market at Port Mathurin. This self-financing is a way to ensure the sustainability of the project. After the completion of their training, these students will have capabilities to set-up on their own farm or to enter the job markets as professionals and will be in a position also to become mentors to disseminate the approach and techniques of organic farming. This project addresses three areas of concern of the GEF Country Programme Strategy, notably Resource Management, POPS and Chemicals and prevention of land degradation by adopting sustainable agricultural practices. Likewise, the Rodrigues Regional Assembly (RRA) being one of the stakeholders aims to revive the agricultural sector and make Rodrigues an ecological island. The RRA encourages the development of agri-business in a sustainable way.

Mauritius