Cyclone Chido’s devastating passage over Mayotte has left deep scars, particularly on the agricultural sector. Harvests were wiped out, and it will take months, if not years, to restore production levels. This situation highlights the fragility of an island that relies heavily on imports to feed its population. Yet regional solutions, such as closer cooperation with Madagascar and Union of Comoros, could make it possible to provide Mayotte with the food it needs quickly and cheaply.

Immediate challenges

In Mayotte, plantations of staple crops such as bananas and manioc have been destroyed. These crops, which are essential to the local diet, cannot be replanted quickly because of farmers’ cash shortages. Unlike the French departments in France, farmers in Mayotte do not benefit from crop insurance, as French companies refuse to insure crops in Mayotte, just as they do on La Reunion Island. The funds mobilised by France to deal with this kind of disaster arrive only too slowly. La Reunion’s farmers can testify to this.
Dependence on imports is a problem. The long distances between Mayotte and its suppliers in Europe or East Asia mean high costs and long lead times. All this will only further exasperate a population that has seen the myth of ‘Mayotte as France’s 101st department’ crumble. However, a regional alternative is possible with Madagascar, which was spared by the cyclone, and the Union of the Comoros.

A close and sustainable solution

Madagascar, and particularly its northern region, could play a key role in supplying food to Mayotte, provided that the French government, which administers this Comorian island, supports this proposal. In 2022, economic cooperation agreements between Madagascar’s Boeny Region and Mayotte’s Departmental Council showed that this solution is not only possible, but also beneficial to both parties. An ambitious project to export 5,000 tonnes of fodder for Mayotte’s livestock from the Boeny region of Madagascar is currently under development. This project, initiated by a delegation from the Mayotte Departmental Council, could create 600 local jobs in Madagascar while reducing Mayotte’s dependence on Europe for this type of product. This partnership is a concrete example of win-win regional cooperation.
The Sofia, DIANA and SAVA regions are even closer to Mayotte. They are major agricultural production regions. The ports of Antsiranana and Mahajanga could be the starting point for a ‘maritime bridge’ to feed Mayotte.
Even closer to Mayotte, the Union of the Comoros mobilised the day after Chido hit Mayotte to organise solidarity. Collections were organised. The government of the Comoros has paid for a cargo ship to be hired to sail to Mayotte to show solidarity.
If the farmers on the islands of Anjouan, Moheli and Grande Comore could produce enough to have a surplus that they could sell in Mayotte, this would be a major contribution to feeding the survivors of Chido.

La Réunion: a supporting role

In 2022, when Ewa, a subsidiary of Air Austral, reopened air services between Mayotte and Madagascar, the Madagascan Minister of Transport stressed the importance of supplying Mayotte with fresh produce, such as onions and garlic, from Madagascar. This partnership, estimated at 40 tonnes of vegetables, would reduce dependence on distant imports, while providing economic outlets for Madagascan farmers.
La Réunion Island has recognised agricultural expertise. It could play a facilitating role in this regional cooperation. By mobilising its expertise in the north of Madagascar and in the Union of the Comoros, La Réunion Island could help to increase agricultural production capacity to supply Mayotte. This would also strengthen the historical and cultural links between these Indian Ocean territories.

Benefits for Mayotte, Madagascar, the Union of the Comoros and La Réunion Island

The benefits of such cooperation are numerous. For Mayotte, it means more stable and less costly supplies, based on short regional circuits. For Madagascar and the Comoros, this co-development can bring additional resources: job creation, higher agricultural incomes and improved local infrastructure. For La Réunion, it means jobs for unemployed young people without the need to go into exile in France, while giving the Malagasy an image other than that of the Réunionese as sex tourists, and showing the Comorans that the Réunionese show solidarity and are involved in the fight against anti-Comorian racism in our country.
Cyclone Chido highlighted Mayotte’s vulnerability to climatic hazards and food dependency. Reviving local agriculture will take time, but co-development with Madagascar and the Union of the Comoros, supported by La Réunion, can provide a rapid and effective response to the immediate needs of the population.
Rather than resorting to imports from Europe or Asia, the French government has every interest in encouraging and supporting co-development initiatives to free our region from food dependency.

M.M.