I'm sure we are all aware that basic commodities such as rice and flour are becoming more and more scarce world wide due to various factors such as an increase in consumption and a reduced land surface for plantation.
Countries like Mauritius are big consumers of rice and flour and unfortunately need to import these commodities because our climate and soil is not convenient to cultivate such stuffs.
During the Second World War, Mauritius suffered a lot from a shortage of imported rice, flour and potatoes. The population at that time (ask our parents and grandparents..) had to eat maize, yam 'Fruit a Pain', cassava 'manioc' and 'arouille' instead of rice and flour, everyday, day and night, for almost six years.
I spent some time in mainland Africa for work and I can tell you that african people are already used to eat such substitutes to rice and flour.
Since the end of the Second World war (1945), Mauritius is now self-sufficient in potato production but is still dependant on imported rice and flour.
Nowadays, we live in a consumer society where everything is 'ready to use' and easily available in supermarkets. We have such a variety of branded imported food at competitive prices that we tend to 'reject' locally produced food which we believe might be of 'inferior' quality.
For example, how many of us will buy locally produced biscuits such as the centenary and unique 'biscuit manioc' (excellent with tea) especially at a time where customs duties have been reduced on imported biscuits ?
People might laugh at me especially the new generation if I recommend them to start 'diversifying' theirfood habits by eating more food which can easily be produced locally.
I am optimist by nature. Nevertheless don't you think it's time for us to think about this serious issue and slowly but gradually change our food habits and get prepared for the worst just in case...
Alain Fok
Countries like Mauritius are big consumers of rice and flour and unfortunately need to import these commodities because our climate and soil is not convenient to cultivate such stuffs.
During the Second World War, Mauritius suffered a lot from a shortage of imported rice, flour and potatoes. The population at that time (ask our parents and grandparents..) had to eat maize, yam 'Fruit a Pain', cassava 'manioc' and 'arouille' instead of rice and flour, everyday, day and night, for almost six years.
I spent some time in mainland Africa for work and I can tell you that african people are already used to eat such substitutes to rice and flour.
Since the end of the Second World war (1945), Mauritius is now self-sufficient in potato production but is still dependant on imported rice and flour.
Nowadays, we live in a consumer society where everything is 'ready to use' and easily available in supermarkets. We have such a variety of branded imported food at competitive prices that we tend to 'reject' locally produced food which we believe might be of 'inferior' quality.
For example, how many of us will buy locally produced biscuits such as the centenary and unique 'biscuit manioc' (excellent with tea) especially at a time where customs duties have been reduced on imported biscuits ?
People might laugh at me especially the new generation if I recommend them to start 'diversifying' theirfood habits by eating more food which can easily be produced locally.
I am optimist by nature. Nevertheless don't you think it's time for us to think about this serious issue and slowly but gradually change our food habits and get prepared for the worst just in case...
Alain Fok
1 comment:
planters of fruits à pain, manioc, arouille & others, arise!
why do most planters plant the same thing? e.g., when there's no pommes d'amour, the prices go up, when there's too much (cos of the above-mentioned moronic habit), the prices don't go down much; what's more,a lot is left to waste or thrown away, to keep prices up. these could have gone to feed the most needy.
so, diversify, and the earth will also have some respite. and our plates will also be much more colourful and cheerful too. and there will be less cholesterol, diabetes,obesity, or any other food-related disease.
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