Unused Farmland in Mauritius Could Be Reclaimed, Boolell Warns

Agriculture Minister Arvin Boolell has issued a stark warning to landowners across Mauritius — those who leave agricultural land unused risk having it reclaimed by the state. Speaking publicly on the issue, Boolell made clear that idle farmland is no longer acceptable at a time when the country is pushing to strengthen its food security and reduce its heavy dependence on food imports. While the minister did not set out a specific legal deadline, his statement signals a firmer policy direction for land use in Mauritius. **Why This Matters** Mauritius imports a significant share of its food, leaving it vulnerable to global supply chain disruptions and price shocks. The government has repeatedly identified local agricultural production as a national priority, and unused arable land is seen as a wasted resource in that effort. Land reform is a sensitive topic in Mauritius, where ownership of large tracts of agricultural land has historically been concentrated among a small number of landholding families and agribusiness groups, many with roots in the island's sugar industry. Critics have long argued that some of this land is kept idle or underutilised rather than being made available to small farmers or cooperatives. **Who Could Be Affected** The warning appears aimed primarily at private landowners — including large estates and companies — holding agricultural land that is not being cultivated or put to productive use. Small planters who actively farm their plots are unlikely to be the target of any such policy. Young and aspiring farmers could stand to benefit if idle land is redistributed or made available through leasing arrangements. There has been growing interest among younger Mauritians in agriculture as a viable career, though access to land remains one of the biggest obstacles they face. **What This Means** If the government follows through, landowners who cannot demonstrate active agricultural use of their plots may face compulsory acquisition or have their land reassigned — potentially to the state, cooperatives, or new farming entrants. The legal mechanism for such action would likely fall under existing land acquisition legislation, though any formal policy change would require parliamentary debate. For now, Boolell's statement reads as a political signal rather than an immediate legal action — but it puts landowners on notice that the status quo of leaving farmland fallow will face greater scrutiny. Mauritius has roughly 64,000 hectares of agricultural land, of which a meaningful portion is estimated to be either idle or not used to its full productive potential. With food import costs placing pressure on household budgets and the national trade balance, the push to activate unused farmland is likely to intensify. Source: Le Defi Media