Sylvanne Lemiel, chairperson of the committee on government assurances within the National Assembly, has expressed on behalf of the committee satisfaction at the progress made on the various projects they visited last week.

She, however, proposed that more visibility is necessary to keep members of the public abreast with the developments and efforts of the departments falling under the Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment.

Members of the Coga visited numerous projects undertaken by different departments to assess progress made in relation to assurances made in the National Assembly in 2019.

United Seychelles’ elected member for Anse Royale, Sylvanne Lemiel led the delegation which also included vice chairperson Norbert Loizeau, Rocky Uranie, Wallace Cosgrow, Desheila Bastienne, Richard Labrosse and Philippe Monthy.

They were accompanied by officials from the ministry, namely Minister Flavien Joubert, principal secretary for agriculture Keven Nancy, chief executive officer of the National Biosecurity Agency (NBA) Marc Naiken and principal biosecurity officer Randy Stravens. Chief executive of the Seychelles Agricultural Agency (SAA) Linetta Estico, senior livestock officer Alejandra Hoareau, project manager Jean-Paul Louis-Marie, and Nedzit Azemia, who handles human resources and administration, were also present.

Small and large animal quarantine facility, Providence zone 20

Construction of the small and large animal quarantine facility at Providence was initiated based on demand for such a facility to be installed locally.

Comprising a dog pound unit with capacity to hold around 60, a section for the isolation or quarantine of large animals, and another for small animals, the project has been financed mainly through the national budget.

“The justification for the project is that it will facilitate commerce with added protection, which could in future help to improve local breeds, breeding stock and animal production. Currently, there is no such facility in Seychelles. But the main objective is to prevent the introduction, establishment and spread of diseases,” principal biosecurity officer Randy Stravens explained.

Upon completion, the facility is to be administered by the NBA. The contract for construction was awarded in December 2020 to Neil Construction for the sum of around R1.9 million. Work was due to start in April and to be completed within 12 weeks, but the completion date has since been revised on account of economic and shipping constraints, and it is expected to be completed towards the end of September this year.

According to Mr Stravens, the NBA in December 2020 made an advanced payment to the contractor, amounting to around 25 percent of the project cost. The first interim payment was made in July this year and the NBA is presently going through the process for the second interim payment, meaning only around R900,000 remains to be paid for outstanding work.

“However, when we were implementing the projects, there were some revisions to the scope of work. This is because we are dealing with the construction of a highly specialised facility, and veterinary is a specialised field, so there are minor modifications. We are still awaiting approval for the extra work,” Mr Stravens added.

Thus far, site clearing, backfilling and compacting as well as the erection of the boundary wall at the site has been completed. The dog pound is almost ready to be put to use, but is awaiting water connection, while more work is needed on the shelters for the isolation of both large and small animals, to roof and resurface the spaces, to allow for proper disinfection between batches of animals, or whenever necessary. Such work is expected to amount to R557,000, although the NBA intends to fund this through its savings.

The project is in line with the agency’s strategy, policies and laws relating to biosecurity. It is also in line with international standards.

Seychelles Agricultural Agency (SAA) research centre

The SAA will in the near future be better prepared to conduct crop research and other research related to agriculture with the construction of a new research centre on its premises at Anse Boileau.

Much larger than the office block already on the site, the building is to house all offices and is nearing completion.

Upon seeing the facility, Minister Joubert proposed that efforts be channelled towards establishing links with educational institutions to increase youth interest, engagement and participation in agricultural sectors.

It was also said by employees that with limited resources, the entity struggles to provide the level of service expected by farmers, with transportation one of the major constraints.

Ruminant genetic centre, Grand Anse

Presently still in the first phase, the ruminant genetic centre located at Grand Anse is a project geared towards multiplication and providing farmers with new bloodlines of sheep, goats and ruminants.

Budgeted at R3.2 million, the three-month project is nearing completion with 90 percent of the work completed. It was due to start in January and be completed by April this year, but, with constraints resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic, it is expected to be completed for operation by August end.

Thus far, the only extra work and costs incurred is R74,000 to raise the ground level and backfilling, meaning a revised budget of R3.3 million. Contractors have thus far been paid R2.9 million.

The facility comprises two separate housing areas for the animals, a storehouse as well as manure shed. The access road to the facility is complete.

Visiting the facility, Minister Joubert highlighted the urgency to diversify within agriculture and farming, better land management, and the need to also encourage livestock rearing, in the interest of the local economy, and towards improving food security.

Once ready for operation, the SAA intends to import ruminants from South Africa, or to start off with the breeds already available in the country.

Pig genetic centre

Located just behind the ruminant genetic centre, is the pig genetic centre, which is at present undergoing renovations. As with the ruminant centre, the project seeks to provide farmers with means by which to multiply livestock, thereby intensifying pig production, to eventually offset high dependency on imports.

The facility comprises pens for the animals, as well as an artificial insemination (AI) station whereby sperm is collected from healthy boars, a widely practiced and very useful tool to introduce superior genes into sow herds, with minimal risk for disease transmission. The centre offers genetic lines and distributes ready-to-use semen doses of quality to different sow herds.

At 75 percent complete, the agency is awaiting the installation of specialist equipment, which has up until now been delayed by the fact that South African specialists could not travel to Seychelles over the months to do so. The agency is also still negotiating with the awarded contractor to dig a lagoon on the centre premises, as the contractor is unwilling to negotiate with regards to the cost for the work, following a review of the work plan and increased construction costs.

According to employees of the station who demonstrated to the delegation part of the AI process, a great proportion of local farmers are interested in setting up multiplication centres to supply to farmers and grow production.

Sir Selwyn Clarke market projects

The visit officially came to an end at the Sir Selwyn Clarke market, at which various projects have been implemented.

One project which is now complete is the construction of five butcher outlets at the market. The project originally accounted for six outlets but due to the structure of the existing building, plans had to be modified. The contract for the project was awarded to Fabsco Construction, for a term of three months, at a sum of around R1.3 million.

While the project was ongoing, there was also extra work to replace broken concrete slabs with metal grills, bringing the total project cost to R1.9 million. As there was no need to build foundations, the agency managed to save R300,000. The project was delivered on time on February 4, 2020.

With the facilities complete, tenants in the old butchers’ facility within the market will be moved into the new facility, for improvement work and the possible construction of public toilets alongside. The entity is putting in place public health and safety measures as advised by the department of public health before doing so.

Among other works undertaken at the market is the painting of concrete counters, painting of the clear roof, replacement of drainage and gutters at the souvenir shops, and replacement of the broken slabs, all of which amounted to less than R150,000.

This year, the entity intends to relocate the security kiosk at the market, which is expected to amount to R64,000, as well as the installation of new gutters as proposed by vendors, which is expected to amount to around R52,000.

The accompanying photos taken by Thomas Meriton show the Coga members and the ministerial delegation during the visits.

Source: National Information Services Agency