Seychelles Food Security Symposium to Mark the World Food Day 2010

The Food Security Symposium was held on the 15^th of October 2010 at the CARE HOUSE, Victoria, Mahe. The symposium was part of the activities organized for the World Food Day under the theme –United Against Hunger. The main objectives of the symposium were to assess the current situation of agricultural development in Seychelles, to evaluate the outcomes, output and the challenges of the Food Security Strategy 2008-2011 and to identify new approaches for improvement and development for the development and implementation of a new strategy. Present at the symposium were different actors from the Government of Seychelles, the Seychelles Agricultural Agency (SAA), International organizations, School of Horticulture and Farmers Training Centre (SHFTC) and representatives from the farming community.

The Minister with portfolio responsible for agriculture made the opening remarks urging all stakeholders to work together for the benefit of agricultural development in Seychelles in the face of economic crisis and climate change challenge. The special adviser to the Minister gave an overview of agricultural development in the past, the current situation and what we want to achieve.  Project officer from UNDP-GEF gave a presentation on Biosecurity project relating to management of invasive species in the Seychelles. Project officer from IAEA gave a presentation on soil fertility and water management, and management of melon fruit fly using nuclear techniques in the Seychelles.   

Representatives from the SAA and SHFTC gave presentations on the five pillars of the Food Security Strategy 2008-2011. The five pillars include Agricultural Land, Agricultural Inputs and Supply, Policy and Institutional Support, Agricultural Infrastructure and Capacity Building and Training.  The presentation focuses on the strategy, action plan, stakeholders, outcomes/output and progress/remarks. In the afternoon session the participants worked in groups discussing on issues relating to the five pillars and the main findings were then presented in a plenary session. The Chief Executive Officer of the SAA gave a summary of the proceedings stressing on the main cross cutting issues and the best way forward for the development of the new Food Security Strategy.  The Principle Secretary from the Department of Natural Resources closed the symposium encouraging all the stakeholders to work in close collaboration for greater achievement in agricultural development in Seychelles.

Contributed by,

Monette Nourice

Research Officer

Research & Development 

Seychelles Agricultural Agency