Statement of merit
A multifunctional role or a sunset industry?
The story of the island of Mauritius is intrinsically linked to sugarcane fields. Formerly the backbone of the country, the sugarcane industry has fostered the diversification of the Mauritian economy with rapid growth in the tourism, financial services, and manufacturing sectors, all geared towards exportation, thus accelerating the socio-economic progress of the small island state.
The recent world sugar price drops have discouraged some small farmers whose lands are left in an abandoned state. However, the big farmers and millers like Terra and Alteo continue to believe and invest in...