(Seychelles News Agency) - The potential for agriculture in Seychelles still exists despite the challenges facing the island nation, a representative of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said on Tuesday.

The FAO representative, Patrice Talla, is on an official visit to the 115-island archipelago in the western Indian Ocean and met with President Danny Faure to discuss the work the organisation has done in Seychelles for the past three years.

Talla said the challenges for the archipelago include scarcity of land available for agriculture and the fact that the sector has not been given priority for the past 15 years. He added that Seychelles’ food imports have increased and amount to 70 percent of the total national consumption.

“A lot of resources spent on importation could be invested in local produce,” said Talla, adding that, “As agriculture is an important sector for Seychelles, it is always important to discuss what we can do to improve the sector to contribute more towards food security for nutrition in the country.”

Patrice Talla and President Danny Faure discussing the work the organisation has done in Seychelles for the past three years. (Patrick Joubert, Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY

Seychelles is currently receiving assistance from the FAO through the Seychelles national agricultural investment plan, where priority areas for the sector have been identified. Over the past three years about 10 projects have been implemented.

Talla also said that investment in agriculture does not only contribute to food security and more revenue but also serves as a means to create further employment.

The local correspondent for FAO, Antoine Marie Moustache, supported the view and said that a lack of investment and marketing has impeded the growth of agriculture in the country.

FAO is already assisting Seychelles in developing the agro-tourism business, which involves any agriculturally-based operations or activity that brings visitors to a farm.