Mayotte: co-development with Madagascar and the Comoros to feed the survivors of Chido

Excerpt and Photo from temoignages.re

Cyclone Chido’s devastating passage over Mayotte has left deep scars, particularly on the agricultural sector. Harvests were wiped out, and it will take months, if not years, to restore production levels. This situation highlights the fragility of an island that relies heavily on imports to feed its population. Yet regional solutions, such as closer cooperation with Madagascar and Union of Comoros, could make it possible to provide Mayotte with the food it needs quickly and cheaply.

In Mayotte, plantations of staple crops such as bananas and manioc have been destroyed. These crops, which are essential to the local diet, cannot be replanted quickly because of farmers’ cash shortages. Unlike the French departments in France, farmers in Mayotte do not benefit from crop insurance, as French companies refuse to insure crops in Mayotte, just as they do on La Reunion Island. The funds mobilised by France to deal with this kind of disaster arrive only too slowly. La Reunion’s farmers can testify to this. Dependence on imports is a problem. The long distances between Mayotte and its suppliers in Europe or East Asia mean high costs and long lead times. All this will only further exasperate a population that has seen the myth of ‘Mayotte as France’s 101st department’ crumble. However, a regional alternative is possible with Madagascar, which was spared by the cyclone, and the Union of the Comoros.