The Sugarcane Crop for the Sustainable Production of Sugar and Other Cane Derived Products in Mauritius

Sugarcane was introduced in Mauritius four centuries ago. Through its considerable resistance and resilience to very adverse climatic conditions like drought and, in particular, intense tropical cyclones, it has proved beyond doubt its capacity to be sustainably cultivated on a long-term commercial basis and to play a multifunctional role. The sugar industry in Mauritius has constantly been faced with challenges and it has always stood up to convert these challenges into opportunities to ensure sustainable productions of sugarcane and derived products derived. Actions taken were mainly in the way of reforms to address technical, financial, socio-economic, and environmental viability of the industry. Appropriate legislations (bearing in mind the specificities of Mauritius as a small island developing state) were put in order to facilitate the sustainability.