By Dr IBRAHIM ALLADIN
This is the story of Seeven Mootoo and his wife Vimala. They reside in Hermitage, close to Côte d’Or and run a small hydroponic operation. In simple terms, hydroponic is the process of growing vegetables or plants without using soil, but by using mineral nutrients and water solutions. Seeven, aged 55, started as a carpenter. He opened a small shop but found out there was little prospect for him. He became a bricklayer and got regular construction jobs. He met a friend who was involved in hydroponic gardening. Gradually, Seeven, with limited formal schooling, decided to diversify and followed in his friend’s footsteps. His wife Vimala took on a keen interest and she launched a small operation. That was twelve years ago. 
Seeven is a registered vegetable grower, and he has the required permit. He can grow tomatoes and a few side plants like celery, cabbage, green pepper, and these vegetables are mostly for his home use. Seeven explains: “My permit allows me to grow tomatoes mostly. When I started twelve years ago, I knew nothing about growing vegetables. I took a course through the Ministry of Agriculture and for six months I attended sessions on hydroponic gardening. It was a free course, and I learnt a lot. I acquired the basic knowledge, but through experience I am now a registered grower. As a registered grower I can access loans and get adverse weather benefits. For example, we can get some funds after a cyclone for repairs and maintenance”.
There is a problem of fresh vegetables shortage in Mauritius. For a country with plenty of fertile land and abundant water supply, the conditions are ideal for growing vegetables all year round. In spite of adverse weather conditions such as cyclones, there is a huge scope for local farming. However, over the years, the country has become dependent on exports and local vegetable production has suffered. There is now renewed interest to support local planters and to engage 
more in the local market. When Seeven started his operation, he said there were about 600 registered growers like himself. There has been a surge in growing local, but he explains that there are too many limitations. The first problem is acquiring a plot of land. Many growers like Seeven cannot afford to buy their own plot, so they rent or seek a plot through the Ministry of Agriculture, which has a program to make land accessible for agricultural purposes. Seeven states his case: “I applied four years ago to get one acre of land to start my project. To date, I have had no reply. So how long can I wait? I rented a small plot and started growing vegetables”.
Seeven’s garden is about 480 square metres. It is a rented property. To start his small business, he needed a capital investment of almost one million rupees, which includes seeds, fertilizers, plastic tent and accessories. It is a big investment for small planters. He took a loan to finance the business. He adds: “For people like me who has no plot, it is an expensive project. Tomato seeds cost around Rs 18,000. I use coco peat which comes from Sri Lanka and it costs Rs 195 per packet. My wife and I work full-time, we hired one extra helper. ENL is the main distributor for agricultural products. The risk is high. Weather is always a factor. I seed the tomatoes for 25 days and it takes about 90 days to get the first tomatoes. There are ups and downs. I produce about 3 tons of tomatoes and we have our own stalls at the markets in Curepipe and Vacoas. I used to supply hotels and restaurants, but not anymore. For the size of my garden, I have a double row system and a total of 10 rows. I use a drip irrigation system. I also grow English cucumbers, green peppers and tried lettuce as well. In a good year, we manage a small profit. It is hard work, requires lots of dedication and I have a passion for gardening. Other risks include thieves. I have to patrol my property two or three times in the middle of the night. I cannot afford a security system. I know thieves have ruined some people.” 
Seeven believes that more people should be involved in the vegetable business. If the local production increases, prices will also be lower and people would get fresh produce throughout the year. It would also reduce importation. He has been running his small business for twelve years and he thinks the government has not made enough efforts to get people interested in hydroponic gardening. Getting seeds and fertilizers also is a problem. The cost is rising all the time. Coco peat use to cost Rs 95 per packet. Today it is Rs 195. The cost of putting a green-house is high with cost of plastic and iron rods rising. Not every planter can get a loan from DBM on time. According to Seeven, many people have been waiting for a long time and the treatment they get from bank officers is not encouraging. So, the motivation is not there.
The story of Seeven sums up the food situation in Mauritius, especially with fresh vegetables. Agriculture should be given priority and with acres of fertile land lying idle, it is a sad reality. Small farmers want to access land, but the bureaucratic 
process often drives them away. Seeven has been waiting for four years to get one acre of land. For a dedicated grower like Seeven, one acre of land is nothing. He has the experience and is a keen gardener, yet the system is not supporting him. Unless there is a genuine attempt to support small growers, the shortage will continue, and the price of imported produce will rise. People like Seeven and Vimala need support. They are addressing a key problem. Support local growers and eat local. The story of Seeven and Vimala is inspiring.