Underlying causes for farm abandonment among small-scale cane growers in a farmer regrouping project in Mauritius.

Sugar cane in Mauritius currently occupies 56,000 ha, an area which has declined at an accelerated rate in the last decade. The Field Operations, Regrouping and Irrigation Project (FORIP), funded by the European Union, was implemented in 2006 to sustain cane production in the small-scale grower sector. By 2015, the Project covered 7,300 hectares. However, some growers who benefitted from the scheme started abandoning the rehabilitated fields. This study aimed at assessing the area abandoned and identifying the main reasons for abandonment. An island-wide survey involving 259 beneficiaries was carried out in different agro -climatic zones. The survey revealed that farm abandonment was more prevalent in the very humid and humid zones and among part-time growers cultivating less than one hectare. The main reasons for abandonment were low yields and high costs of labour and transport, leading to low profitability. The findings should help relevant authorities to take necessary remedial measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]