Mauritius cane industry explores mechanization with "Koupez Pei" to support small planters
The International Trade Centre ITC, under the EU-ACP Business Friendly Programme, is organizing practical training on the "Koupez Pei" machine to address declining production from small sugarcane planters and labor shortages in Mauritius. This initiative, in collaboration with the African Centre of Excellence in Logistics CEAL and Planters' Services of Alteo Milling Ltd, brings together operators from small planter associations, businesses, and the Mauritius Cane Industry Authority MCIA. Large planters are also interested in the equipment for fields still harvested manually. Jean Claude Autrey stated that this project, funded by the United Nations through ITC Geneva and the European Union through the ACP States Secretariat in Brussels, aims to add value to the cane sector, increase cane and sugar production, improve sugar marketing, and promote the rum industry. He highlighted the importance of improving productivity per hectare and overall production for the viability of the cane industry, noting that small planters' contribution to national production has fallen from 19% to 11% in six years. This decline is attributed to disinterest from some small planters, land abandonment, labor shortages, and high harvesting and loading costs. The "Koupez Pei," an innovation from Reunion, is particularly suited for small plots, unlike larger harvesting machines. The ITC engaged a Reunion-based company to train Mauritian operators, with Reunion's performance showing experienced producers
