Mauritius Food Crop Output Jumps 11.8% in First Half of 2026

Mauritius has recorded a significant rise in food crop production for the first half of 2026, with output climbing 11.8% compared to the same period last year, according to fresh data from Statistics Mauritius. A total of 82,914 tonnes of food crops were harvested between January and June 2026, up from 74,141 tonnes during the same six months in 2025. The area under cultivation also expanded, with harvested land growing 3.4% — from 4,266 to 4,409 hectares. **Open fields and protected farming both grow** The increase was driven by gains in both traditional and modern farming methods. Open-field production — the most common form of cultivation on the island — rose 10%, reaching 74,788.8 tonnes. Meanwhile, production under sheltered or greenhouse-type structures grew at a faster rate of 32.1%, totalling 8,124.8 tonnes. The stronger growth in protected farming reflects a broader push by Mauritian agricultural authorities to encourage more controlled, year-round food production. **What's being grown** Among the top-performing crops, string vegetables (légumes filants) led the way with 23,309 tonnes harvested. They were followed by mixed vegetables at 12,641 tonnes, tomatoes (locally known as pomme d'amour) at 11,041 tonnes, and cabbage at 8,641 tonnes. The figures also include estimates for home garden production — backyard or small-scale family plots — particularly for bananas, cassava, and sweet potatoes. These estimates are provided by FAREI, the Food and Agricultural Research and Extension Institute, a government body under the Ministry of Agro-Industry that supports farmers with research, training, and technical guidance. **Context: How does this compare to full-year 2025?** For context, Mauritius produced a total of 189,970 tonnes of food crops across the whole of 2025. The 82,914 tonnes recorded in just the first half of 2026 suggests the island is on track to potentially surpass last year's full-year total — a promising sign for local food security and import substitution efforts. **What this means** For ordinary Mauritians, higher domestic food crop production can help moderate vegetable prices at markets, reduce dependence on imported produce, and support local farmers' incomes. At a time when fuel and living costs remain elevated, a stronger harvest season offers some relief for household food budgets. The growth in protected farming, in particular, points to greater resilience against weather disruptions — including heavy rains and cyclones — which have historically caused sharp drops in local vegetable supply. Source: ION News