The Region is taking action to secure supplies

Sugarcane and specialty sugar sectors are at the heart of efforts to support farmers in Réunion.

On January 27, the Regional President, Huguette Bello, visited the Prefecture to meet with producers and discuss the difficulties they face daily. During this meeting, the President addressed the main challenges: delays in subsidy payments, competition from imports, sometimes unsuitable standards, and recurring droughts. She emphasized the need to increase local production and protect Réunion’s agricultural sectors through concrete actions.

“Farmers harvest, feed the population, and then too often end up forgotten by everyone. We don’t want this to continue,” she stated. Furthermore, she raised concerns about the effects of international trade agreements, such as Mercosur and the agreement with India, which create unfair competition for high-quality local products. Strategic sectors, particularly sugarcane and specialty sugars, remain especially vulnerable.

The President reiterated the importance of investing in appropriate infrastructure, such as cold storage facilities distributed across the island, to better promote local products and secure supplies in the event of cyclones or droughts. She stated that it is essential that Réunion’s production take priority over imports during extreme weather events.