The Urgent Need for True Food Sovereignty

Opinion

From wartime rationing to the Iran War shock: The structural failures threatening food security in Mauritius

By Sada Reddi

During the past two years, amidst the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic, politicians, economists, and businessmen have expressed concerns about a global recession. The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, the conflict in the Middle East opposing Israel to Hamas, and now the severe escalation of the Iran War have only deepened their pessimism, especially with millions of people now confronting the spectre of food insecurity. The outbreak of the Iran War, in particular, has rapidly transformed a regional energy shock into a systemic multi-commodity crisis. The prevalence of these widening regional conflicts, geopolitical tensions, and severe economic policy uncertainty presents significant downside risks.

In 2014, over 500 million people were already grappling with various forms of food shortages. Since mid-2020, global food prices have surged by 50%. In Mauritius, a combination of factors including inflation, currency depreciation, adverse weather conditions, and unemployment has exacerbated food insecurity for numerous families. In 2020, Mauritius regressed from a high-income to a middle-income country, resulting in relative poverty transitioning into absolute poverty. Escalating food prices have forced some individuals to skip meals, while many families are forced to reduce their essential food intake, particularly for children.

The Global Supply Chain Squeeze

The immediate fallout of the Iran War has laid bare the extreme vulnerability of import-dependent island nations to global maritime choke points. The de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz has not only sent Brent Crude surging past $120 a barrel, driving up local freight and processing costs, but it has upended the global supply of foundational agricultural inputs. The region typically supplies 30% of the world’s urea and nitrogen fertilizers; the resulting shortages have caused a massive spike in global agricultural input costs, which inevitably translates to higher prices at the local market.

Furthermore, with maritime traffic forced away from the Red Sea and the Suez Canal corridor due to spillover tensions, shipping lines have enacted a massive structural rerouting around the Cape of Good Hope. This African detour adds 10 to 15 days to standard transit times and introduces roughly $1 million in additional fuel costs per voyage, compounded by heavy emergency conflict surcharges that add upwards of $2,000 per container. For Mauritius, sitting along these disrupted oceanic routes, this “domino effect” means chronic container displacement, delayed arrivals of essential goods, and a direct hit to the affordability of imported foodstuff.

The memories of food shortages are deeply ingrained in the collective consciousness of our parents and grandparents. They endured significant hardships, relying solely on locally grown produce from vegetable plantations and home gardens. Staple foods like maize, manioc, and sweet potatoes became their primary diet for prolonged periods, sometimes spanning months or even years, all while working exhausting 10 to 12-hour days.

In light of the impending crisis, there is little optimism that the situation will improve for the suffering poor unless we engage all stakeholders from various sectors and devise solutions tailored to our specific needs.

Lessons from the World Wars

During the First World War, despite a sugar boom and sufficient resources to procure basic commodities, the population endured severe food shortages. The government intervened by implementing price controls and establishing a profiteering court. However, during the simultaneous Spanish influenza pandemic, which afflicted the island, malnutrition among the impoverished exacerbated the situation, contributing to the deaths of approximately 12,000 people.

Similarly, the food security situation did not significantly improve during the Second World War. In April 1941, the colonial Secretary of State sought measures from Governors in various colonies to ensure food security. However, resistance faced by the colonial government in Mauritius hindered effective action.

To avert food shortages, measures were taken to stockpile food for a 90-day period. The establishment of the Food Control Board, equipped with executive powers, aimed to oversee food supply management. Additionally, landowners with over 20 acres of land were encouraged to cultivate food crops, although initially without compulsion.

As the situation worsened with the Japanese occupation of the East, more drastic measures became imperative. Critical land allocations for food crop cultivation were made, with sugar estates designating approximately 34,000 acres for food production. Various initiatives were undertaken to bolster food supply, including the establishment of a nutrition department, provision of financial aid, and mandatory food crop cultivation by sugar estates.

In the end, the food growing programme failed miserably as King Sugar dominated the scene. Sugar estate owners vehemently opposed the initiative, citing various reasons, many of which were mere pretexts. While they resisted growing food crops on lands dedicated to lucrative sugar cane cultivation, they overlooked the needs of the population, assured of their own food supply from their estates. Consequently, widespread food scarcity led to malnutrition, illness, and a considerable drop in workers’ productivity, as they frequently absented themselves from work due to illness.

The shortage of labourers in many regions necessitated the transportation of workers from one area to another by lorries. Only the timely arrival of manioc starch and wheat from Madagascar and Australia averted a food crisis in 1943. Dr Clyde, the Food Adviser of the Colonial Office, noted the relative failure of the food production programme, with only 49,000 tons of foodstuff harvested between 1943-1944, while sugar production not only remained unaffected but increased.

Breaking the Rhetoric

Reflecting on history, it’s clear that food shortages have been a significant trigger for social and political instability globally. Recognizing this, the government and stakeholders are implementing initiatives to boost food crop production. These efforts include encouraging youth to pursue agriculture, providing training, and introducing them to agricultural technology. Despite advocacy from groups and individuals, practical challenges persist, including soil and climate conditions, pest impacts, and a lack of planting coordination.

Present initiatives appear limited in scope, with little attention given to leveraging sea resources, which have long been vital for food security. Better planning, coordination, and political will are needed to ensure success. Key measures should include allocating more land for food crop cultivation, safeguarding and increasing sea product availability, and enhancing food storage capacity to avoid market gluts that discourage producers.

The Agricultural Marketing Board, State Trading Corporation, and various ministries must play pivotal roles in ensuring adequate food supplies at reasonable prices, particularly for the most vulnerable. Famines often occur not due to a total global absence of food, but because of acute affordability issues among the poor — a risk heavily amplified today by soaring international freight and fuel insurance surcharges. Additionally, past events like the Wakashio disaster disrupted for quite some time the supply of fresh fish and other sea foods, highlighting the critical importance of diverse, resilient local food sources.

To address these challenges effectively, comprehensive plans crafted in collaboration with researchers, experts, and stakeholders with indigenous knowledge are essential. Without such concerted efforts, food security, and even food sovereignty, will remain mere rhetoric.

Mauritius Times ePaper Friday 29 May 2026