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2024 CENSUS OF Agriculture (CA2024)

Highlights

1. Number of Agricultural Holdings

            Based on information collected at CA2024, the total number of agricultural holdings (excluding sugarcane and tea only) was estimated at 24,145 (Island of Mauritius: 19,246 and Island of Rodrigues: 4,899) and were predominantly (99%) in the household sector.

2. Characteristics of Agricultural Holdings

Area

•       - The total area of holdings was estimated at 62,880 hectares and 1,359 hectares for Islands of Mauritius and Rodrigues respectively over the period July 2023 to June 2024.

Activity

• ​      - On the Island of Mauritius, the majority (80%) of the holding's activity in the household sector was growing of crops over the period July 2023 to June 2024 while those in the     non-household sector were predominantly (52%).

•       -  As regards to the Island of Rodrigues, the majority (62%) of the holdings in the household sector were involved in mixed farming while the majority (56%) of those in the non-household sector was engaged in growing of crops.

Land Use

•      -  Out of the total area of holdings covered by farms of the non-household sector in the Island of Mauritius over the period July 2023 to June 2024, 60% were under permanent crops and 8% under temporary crops. On the other hand, in the household sector18% of the areas were under permanent crops, and 73% for growing temporary crops.

•      -   As regards to the Island of Rodrigues, most of the areas in both the non-household and household sectors were under temporary crops (43% and 69% respectively).

Land Tenure

•       -  In the Island of Mauritius, over the period July 2023 to June 2024, most (88%) of the areas in the non-household sector were owned by the farmers. In the household sector, 44% of the area was owned by the farmers, while most of the remaining areas were either rented from other owners or leased from Government.

•        - For the Island of Rodrigues, most of the areas in both the non-household and household sectors (65% and 78% respectively) were leased from Government.

Land Parcel

•      -  The number of land parcels operated by the household farms over the period July 2023 to June 2024 was estimated at around 29,200 and 6,000 on the Islands of Mauritius and Rodrigues respectively.

3. Harvested and planted area of crops over the period July 2023 to June 2024

Harvested area of vegetables and cereals

•      -  The total harvested area of vegetables and cereals on the Islands of Mauritius and Rodrigues was estimated at around 9,300 and 730 hectares respectively.

Planted area of fruit and nut trees

•      -  The total area under fruits and nuts on the Islands of Mauritius and Rodrigues was estimated at around 1,974 and 110 hectares respectively.

Harvested area of horticultural products (Flowers and decorative leaves)

•      -  The total harvested area of horticultural products on the Islands of Mauritius and Rodrigues was estimated at around 50 and 0.7 hectares respectively.

4. Livestock, poultry and beehive numbers

            The livestock, poultry and beehive numbers as at 30 June 2024 were estimated as follows:

                                           Island of Mauritius            Island of Rodrigues

                                            Number ('000)                   Number ('000)

Livestock:

Cattle                                              5                                           9 

Goats                                            28                                          15

Sheep                                              6                                           11

Pigs                                               25                                          17

Deer                                              29                                            -

Poultry:

Poultry-broiler                          4,966                                        91       

Poultry-layer                               526                                       28

Poultry-local                                  13                                       122

Ducks                                          377                                        11

Other poultry                                   -                                           5

Beehives:

Productive beehives                         3                                           3       

Non-productive beehives                 2                                          1

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