Bio-diversity

Project Summary Rodrigues Island forms part of the Republic of Mauritius. Situated almost 650 km north-east from the main Island, Rodrigues has a total land surface area of 108 km (18 km long and 6 km wide) and a coast line of 80 km. In 2002, the Central Government accorded the autonomous status by setting up the Rodrigues Regional Assembly (RRA) responsible for the political and administrative management of local affairs. The RRA is headed by the Chief Commissioner and the Executive Council composed by Commissioners responsible for key development sectors. In 2010, the population accounted to 37.838 with a growth rate of 1, 25% per annum. According to recent statistics , 30.7% of the households live below the poverty line whereas in Mauritius main island poverty affects about 7.1% households. Rodrigues has a long tradition in the production of basic food commodities of both crop and livestock. Over time we have been observing a change in consumption habits, where consumers find imported products more accessible and a lower cost which has led to a reduction in local production less people involved in agriculture or small flock size. Despite this fact, agriculture has remained the central economic activity sector in Rodrigues. It is estimated that around 4000 farmers are involved in backyard family poultry production in Rodrigues. Farmers rear indigenous scavenging chickens, which are known as the local breed, presumably a mixture of Rhode Island Red, Australorp and Naked neck breeds introduced on the islands two to three centuries ago by early settlers. Poultry rearing constitutes an important source of both food and income to many farmers. Almost all Rodrigues families rear a few to hundreds of scavenging chickens which are consumed locally and export also. The birds fetch a high price as it is very tasty and have always been highly demanded especially by the Chinese Community of Mauritius. Local poultry production has remained on amateurish basis as farmers have no structured market for local poultry, they have no training on semi or larger scale fowl production and farmers are hesitant to invest in poultry production as there is no model farm for large scale local poultry rearing in Rodrigues. However, despite the growing demand on the market, the export of Rodrigues fowls has considerably decreased during the last few years. Statistics from the Rodrigues Trade and Marketing Unit (RTMC) show a decline from 490 baskets exported in 2001 to only 225 exported in 2010. High mortality of chicken and lack of business structure are key main causes of this downwards trend. With only two veterinaries in the island, livestock control is in effect extremely poor. Additionally, farmers lack of proper experience in business management and, as a consequence, face several difficulties in establishing small business on the market. There is a need to preserve the indigenous fowl of Rodrigues and also to improve its rearing system to have better carcass quality and also preserve the special values (flavor and organic product). In line to the Immediate Objective n.6 Maintain or improve flow of agro-ecosystem and forest ecosystem services to sustain livelihoods of local communities of GEF SGP Operational Phase n.5 Country Programme Strategy 2011 2014, the project supports the development of sustainable farming practice of the landrace fowl in Rodrigues. Actions are based on successful practices and lessons learnt from a previous project Improving the Rodriguan Fowl Production in Rodrigues managed by the Rodrigues Local Poultry Association and funded by GEF SGP in 2009. In order to achieve this goal, the project will provide technical assistance on the following three areas: 1. Setting up a sustainable farming structure Building a low carbon farm with efficient energy system and appropriate rainwater harvesting; 2. Producing and marketing high quality landrace fowls, fruits and vegetables Composting, mixed planting and inter-cropping free from chemical pesticides and fertilizers will be used for poultry feeding and surplus will be sold on the market. The Rodrigues Trade and Marketing Company (RTMC) will provide specific assistance for the marketing of the fowl production; 3. Providing capacity building training for farmers Training courses will focus on agro-ecology techniques, disease control, fowls illness treatment and small business management including project development, production planning, financial administration and product marketing. In line with the Commission for Agriculture s target to achieve self-sufficiency in poultry needs, the project will support the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) commitment of increasing food security and improving environmental management in agricultural sector. Actions will contribute to UN Delivering as One objective of creating green jobs in Rodrigues . 1.2 Organizational Background and Capacity to implement the project The Young Entrepreneur of Rodrigues is an association composed by 15 members, from vulnerable groups whose income will largely depend from the poultry farming. They will start with a production of 200 chickens with the objective of setting up first a market on Rodrigues and afterwards, when well established, extend the selling to Mauritius. The association received an Agriculture Permit by the Commission of Agriculture for the use and occupation of 10.693 m2 of land located at l Union (Rodrigues) for the purpose of mixed farming. In this area, where the

Mauritius