Overview
The Crop Research Department has the responsibility to support and oversee development in the non-sugar crop sector and ensure that the needs of the sector is addressed through research and adoption of new technologies. The Department through its division conduct adaptive research to address the needs of the nation. It also applies relevant knowledge as well as techniques gained from basic research elsewhere to adapt technologies to suit local conditions. It comprises six research divisions namely, Agronomy, Vegetable and Ornamental, Fruit, Resource Management, Entomology and Plant Pathology.

Mission
To conduct applied and adaptive cost effective research for the introduction and development of novel technologies, to increase crop production and improve crop quality to enhance food security in a sustainable manner.

Objectives
Develop cost effective technologies
Introduce and develop new varieties
Maintain germplasm and promote under utilised crop species
Develop best agricultural practices for sustainable production
Optimise use of agricultural resources
Develop protocols, norms and standards for minimally processed and preserved products and fruit juices.
Develop Integrated Plant Protection Management strategies
Increase production of strategic crops for enhanced food security

Overview
The Livestock Research Department comprises the Animal Production and Animal Health Divisions. It has the mandate to conduct strategic research in the livestock and poultry sectors and adapts relevant knowledge and techniques to local conditions. The department fosters close interaction among scientists, farmers and extension staff to ensure that research activities are planned in a multidisciplinary and participative manner.

Mission
To undertake applied and adaptive cost effective research for development, to boost the livestock sector in order to increase milk, meat, poultry and derived products and to enhance food security in a sustainable way.

Objectives
To develop new technologies and improve farming practices through applied and adaptive research aiming at increasing farm production and productivity in a sustainable way
To support livestock farmers in value addition and marketing of their products as a profitable enterprise
To assist farmers in the conception and implementation of livestock and poultry projects

Livestock Strategies
The scope of research and development programme is to:

Develop technologies/farming practices through cost-effective research in nutrition, breeding, reproduction, fodder/pasture and waste management to increase farm production and productivity
Develop feeding strategies for livestock using locally available feed resources
Conserve farm animal genetic resources for utilization in breeding programmes
Professionalise and modernise the sector through efficient use of resources
Develop and promote sustainable livestock production and sensitise on the concept of Clean, Green and Ethical (CGE) animal production
Linkages

International Collaboration
Linkages and collaboration with other international institutions have been built and are continuously maintained. These include: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for the implementation of projects with peaceful applications of nuclear technology, the International Foundation for Science, the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), etc.

National collaboration
The Livestock Research Department very often solicits support and cooperation from other stakeholders in Mauritius for optimizing efforts and resources for the benefits of the farming community namely the Agricultural Services and Forestry Service of the Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security, the Mauritius Meat Producers Association, the Mauritius Meat Authority, the Mauritius Prisons Service, the Food Security Fund, the Empowerment Foundation, the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme – UNDP, Aadicon Biotechnologies Ltd., livestock farmers cooperative societies, etc.

Research Facilities

Research Station

The department manages one livestock research station, the Curepipe Livestock Research Station CLRS), located at Les Casernes, Curepipe. It provides support in implementing research on various themes related to livestock production and its facilities are used to train livestock farmers and entrepreneurs. It covers an area of 8 hectares and comprises production units for dairy cattle, goats, sheep and rabbits. It also has a fodder unit which includes a germplasm collection of fodder species and plots for testing of local and introduced fodder species.

Laboratory Facilities

The department has laboratory facilities for research on ruminant nutrition, milk processing and production of parasitoids for the biological control of stable flies.

Ruminant Laboratory Facility: For the determination of dry matter degradability in order to assess the efficiency of utilization of various feeds by ruminants and for determination of pH, electrical conductivity, dry matter, bulk density, …
Milk Processing Facility: For developing protocols of dairy products, training and demonstration on milk processing and promote agri-business opportunities.
Parasitoid Production Unit: For rearing parasitoids (Trichopria sp.) for the biological control of stable fly (Stomoxys nigra). Some 125,000 parasitoids are released weekly in sugar cane fields around deer chassées and farms.

Overview

The Extension and Training Department ensures technology transfer to the farming community and agro entrepreneurs in the horticultural sector (vegetables, fruits, ornamentals) and livestock sector (cattle, poultry, goat, sheep, deer, rabbit and pig). The main activities include provision of technical advisory services, training and information dissemination, facilitating access to government incentives, field data collection on production, socio-economic and agronomic issues among others.

The services are delivered through three divisions:

• Crop Extension Division
• Livestock Extension Division
• Information and Training Division

The Department is under the responsibility of the Assistant Director (Extension and Training) with a Principal Extension Officer heading each Division and an Agricultural Coordinator for administration and logistics.

Mission
To provide a cost effective technical advisory and training service to the farming community for sustainable development of the agricultural sector (vegetables, fruits, ornamentals and livestock).

Key Objectives

• Professionalise the sector by improving farmers’ knowledge and skills through technical advisory services and training;
• Improve farm productivity, farmers’ income and welfare;
• Modernise the sector through adoption of new technologies;
• Promote value addition to agricultural produce;
• Enhance food security;
• Improve linkages among farmer, extension, research and other stakeholders; and
• Facilitate access to government incentives and services.