The National UNFSS dialogue  confers a rare opportunity for farmers and producer- based organisations, not only to bring their matters to global attention, but also to actively influence the re-configuration of the food systems, such that it delivers more and better for them. Indeed, the farmer constituency have to be proactive in influencing the “building back better” narrative to reflect their aspiration of the desired state and the principles underpinning it, rather than being followers and consumers of narratives shaped by other groups whose interests may not necessary be converging with theirs.

Mauritius would consequently assist in developing critical national polices that would be conducive for the producers and farmers-constituency. The National dialogue would stimulate critical conversations amongst the farmers ‘constituency on the pathways towards the resilient local food systems. It would address local issues in the Mauritian food systems including:

1. Major operational and financial risks faced by local food producers;
2. Poor involvement of women and youth as Agripreneurs;
3. Lack of R & D Policies conducive for developing local seed banks, high yielding crop varieties, fertiliser subsidies, mechanisation, solar farming or other feasible forms of precision Agriculture;
4. High Import bill & major post-harvest losses;
5. Inadequate public & private funding to uplift local food producers;
6. Lack of concrete blue economy policies & climate risk management plan.

The national feedback mechanism would be subsequently reported to the global UNFSS for the summit to reflect on relevant challenges and the key policies instruments that are actually required to benefit the farmers, producer-constituencies, ecosystem and society as a whole.