UN helps Mauritius tackle rising chemical fertilizer costs

A UN team for Mauritius and Seychelles is helping their authorities tackle rising chemical fertilizer costs, a UN spokesman has said.

“We are helping with import substitution strategies that help the environment as well as local producers, including women,” Stephane Dujarric, chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was cited as saying by Chinese platform, Xinhua.

“This is urgent for both countries, which are currently 100% dependent on imported chemical fertilizers.”

The Food and Agriculture Organization, the UN Development Programme and UN Women are ready to use seaweed for the local production of bio-fertilizers in Mauritius, Dujarric said.

“This project builds on a similar seaweed fertilizer production practice carried out in the Seychelles, bolstering aquaculture and hydroponics, also with the support of the United Nations team.”

Resident Coordinator Christine Umutoni leads the UN team, he said.

Original article at Xinhua