Water profile of Mauritius
Contents
- 1 Geography, Climate, and Population
- 2 Economy, Agriculture, and Food Security
- 3 Water Resources and Use
- 4 Irrigation and Drainage Development
- 5 Water Management, Policies, and Legislation Related to Water Use in Agriculture
- 6 Environment and Health
- 7 Perspectives for Agricultural Water Management
- 8 Further Reading
Geography, Climate, and Population
Map of Mauritius (Source: FAO) The Republic of Mauritius is an island country in the Indian Ocean, 950 kilometers (km) to the east of Madagascar. It has a total area of 2,040 square kilometers (km2), consisting of the island of Mauritius itself (1,865 km2), and the islands of Rodrigues, Agalega, and the Chagos Archipelago. The island of Mauritius consists of an undulating central plateau with coastal plains in the north and east. The southern and southeastern escarpments of the plateau are steep and rugged. The island is surrounded by coral reefs and is of volcanic origin. Soils are mainly derived from weathered basaltic lava. Reddish tropical latosols are the most widespread soils and cover around 70 percent of the whole island. The cultivated area is 106,000 hectares (ha), or 52 percent of the total area of Mauritius, of which arable land covers 100,000 ha and permanent crops 6,000 ha (Table 1). Around 20 percent is occupied by built-up areas and 2 percent by public roads. The remaining area consists of forests, scrub lands, grasslands, and reservoirs.
| Table 1. Basic statistics and population | |||
| Physical areas | |||
| Area of the country | 2002 | 204,000 | ha |
| Cultivated area (arable land and area under permanent crops) | 2002 | 106,000 | ha |
| -as% of the total area of the country | 2002 | 53 | % |
| - arable land (annual crops + temp fallow + temp meadows) | 2002 | 100,000 | ha |
| -area under permanent crops | 2002 | 6,000 | ha |
| Population | |||
| Total population | 2004 | 1,233,000 | inhabitants |
| -of which are rural | 2002 | 56 | % |
| Population density | 2004 | 604 | inhabitants/km2 |
| Economically active population | 2004 | 546,000 | inhabitants |
| -as% of total population | 2004 | 44 | % |
| -female | 2004 | 34 | % |
| -male | 2004 | 66 | % |
| Population economically active in agriculture | 2004 | 56,000 | inhabitants |
| -as% of total economically active population | 2004 | 10 | % |
| -female | 2004 | 23 | % |
| -male | 2004 | 77 | % |
| Economy and development | |||
| Gross Domestic Product (GDP)(current US$) | 2003 | 5,200 | million US$/yr |
| -value added in agriculture (% of GDP) | 2003 | 6.0 | % |
| -GDP per capita | 2003 | 4,259 | US$/yr |
| Human Development Index (highest=1) | 2002 | 0.785 | |
| Access to Improved drinking water sources | |||
| Total population | 2002 | 100 | % |
| Urban population | 2002 | 100 | % |
| Rural population | 2002 | 100 | % |
Mauritius has a sub-tropical and mild maritime climate. There are two seasons: the summer season from December to April, during which temperatures exceed 32 °C on a regular basis, and the winter season from May to November with a minimum temperature seldom falling below 16 °C. The summer is influenced by the passage of cyclones, which cause damage to crops and buildings. The average annual precipitation over the island is 2,041 millimeters (mm). The north and west of the island are the driest regions of the island, with an annual precipitation of 1,200 mm and 900 mm respectively. The Central Plateau at an altitude of 500 meters (m) receives an annual average of 4,000 mm.
Total population of the country is 1.23 million (2004) of which 56 percent are rural (Table 1). Annual population growth rate is 1.1 percent (1990-2002). The population density is 604 inhabitants/km2. The unemployment rate is 10.6 percent (2003). The total population has access to improved drinking water sources and 99 percent were using adequate sanitation facilities in 2002. Infant mortality rate was 17 per 1,000 life births and the under-five mortality rate was 19 per 1,000 children in 2002.
Economy, Agriculture, and Food Security
In 2003 the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was US$5.2 billion (current US$). Since achieving independence in 1968, Mauritius has had a practically continuous economic growth at an average rate of 5.2 percent/year (1992-2002). In 2003, agriculture accounted for 6 percent of the GDP. Sugar is the main crop and constitutes the principal agricultural commodity, with an annual production in 2003 of 5.2 million tonnes. Many planters with access to irrigation have diversified from sugar cane to food crops and vegetables, due to the expanded demand from tourism. Basic foodstuffs such as rice, flour, and cereals are imported as the cultivation of such commodities is not economically viable in Mauritius.
About 56,000 people or 10 percent of the economically active population work in agriculture, of which 23 percent are women and 77 percent men. About 0.1 percent of adults are estimated to be infected with HIV/AIDS.
Water Resources and Use
Water Resources
Mauritius consists of 25 major river basins and the largest are the Grand River South East and the Grand River North West. Most rivers are perennial, originating from the central plateau. Discharge to the sea is estimated to be 0.5 cubic kilometers per year (km3/year). Mauritius has five main aquifers. Total renewable water resources are estimated at 2.751 km3/year. Total exploitable water resources are estimated at 1.083 km3/year.
| Table 2. Water: sources and use | |||
| Renewable water resources | |||
| Average precipitation | 2,041 | mm/yr | |
| 4.16 | 109m3/yr | ||
| Internal renewable water resources | 2.75 | 109m3/yr | |
| Total actual renewable water resources | 2.75 | 109m3/yr | |
| Dependency ratio | 0 | % | |
| Total actual renewable water resources per inhabitant | 2004 | 2,231 | m3/yr |
| Total dam capactity | 2003 | 93 | 106m3 |
| Water withdrawal | |||
| Total water withdrawal | 2003 | 725 | 106m3/yr |
| -irrigation + livestock | 2003 | 491 | 106m3/yr |
| -domestic | 2003 | 214 | 106m3/yr |
| -industry | 2003 | 20 | 106m3/yr |
| -per inhabitant | 2003 | 594 | m3/yr |
| -as% of total actual renewable water resources | 2003 | 26 | % |
| Non-conventional sources of water | |||
| Produced wastewater | - | 106m3/yr | |
| Treated wastewater | 2002 | 20.65 | 106m3/yr |
| Reused treated wastewater | 2002 | 0 | 106m3/yr |
| Desalinated water produced | 2002 | 0 | 106m3/yr |
| Reused agricultural drainage water | 2002 | 0 | 106m3/yr |
Total dam capacity is 93 million m3. There are five main storage reservoirs (Mare aux Vacoas, La Ferme, Mare Longue, La Nicoliere, Piton du Milieu) and one impounding rockfill dam (Midlands Dam). Minor reservoirs for hydropower are Tamarin, Eau Bleue, and Diamamouve and there are two in-field minor storage reservoirs at Valetta and Dagotière, which regulate water for irrigation. The amount of treated wastewater was 20.6 million m3/year in 2002.
Water Use
Figure 1. Water withdrawal (Source: FAO) Total water withdrawal in Mauritius is 725 million m3/year (2003), of which agriculture accounts for 491, domestic for 214 and industry for 20 million m3/year (Table 2 and Figure 1). The abstraction of groundwater resources amounts to 148 million m3/year, from 360 boreholes, and the remaining abstraction of 577 million m3/year is surface water. The average depth of the boreholes is 40-60 m, with a maximum depth of 173 m.
Irrigation and Drainage Development
Evolution of Irrigation Development
Figure 2. Irrigation techniques (Source: FAO) The irrigation potential in Mauritius is estimated at 33,000 ha. The development of irrigation started in 1910 with the construction of the La Ferme and Nicolière reservoirs and the main feeder canals in 1929 to convey water to the western and northern regions. Surface irrigation was used until the early 1960s when sprinkler irrigation was introduced. In 1970, the areas equipped for full and partial control irrigation were about 12,000 ha, all for sugar cane. In 1978 the Mauritius Irrigation Authority was created, which accelerated the expansion of the irrigation sector for sugar cane and food crops and promoted the adoption of efficient irrigation techniques. Mauritius has one of the highest yields of sugar cane in the world. The area equipped for full control irrigation was estimated to be 16,720 ha in 1987, 17,500 ha in 1995 and 21,222 ha in 2003. Surface irrigation is practiced on 2,372 ha, sprinkler irrigation on 17,028 ha and localized irrigation on 1,822 ha (Table 3 and Figure 2). About 75 percent of the land is irrigated with surface water and 25 percent by groundwater (Figure 3). Around 61 percent of the land is power irrigated. Most of the area equipped for irrigation is actually irrigated, i.e. 20,800 ha. Three categories of irrigation schemes can be distinguished: i) small-scale irrigation schemes (< 2 ha) amounting to 4,548 ha; ii) medium-scale irrigation schemes (2-40 ha) amounting to 328 ha and iii) large-scale irrigation schemes (> 40 ha) amounting to 16,346 ha (Table 3 and Figure 4).
Figure 3. Origin of irrigation water (Source: FAO) 
Figure 4. Typology of irrigation (Source: FAO) Both public and private irrigation schemes exist. In private schemes, the farmers own the land and are beneficiaries of water rights for surface water or groundwater. Irrigation construction, operation and maintenance are financed by them too. In public schemes, the land is either owned by the farmers or it belongs to the state. Full or up to 80 percent of the investment is made by the state, which has the water rights. Operation and maintenance costs are covered by the Water Users’ Association (WUA).
Table 3. Irrigation and drainage (Source: FAO) Role of Irrigation in Agricultural Production, the Economy, and Society
Most of the irrigation schemes operational at present are located in the rural areas in the northern and western regions and in the coastal belts of east and south. Farmers have diversified their agriculture from the mono-crop of sugar cane to food crops such as vegetables (tomatoes, eggplants, green peppers, and beans) (Table 3 and Figure 5).
Figure 5. Irrigated crops (Source: FAO) The development cost of irrigation for public schemes is US$10,200/ha for center pivot-cum-solid set high-pressure sprinkler irrigation, US$8,653/ha for drip irrigation and US$3,845/ha for dragline low pressure sprinkler irrigation. The average operational and maintenance costs are US$506/ha and rehabilitation costs around US$290/ha in public schemes. The average cost of irrigation development in private schemes is US$7,590/ha for center pivot irrigation, with operational and maintenance costs of US$318/ha and rehabilitation costs of US$254/ha. Annual irrigation water requirements for sugar cane vary from region to region, being on average around 820 mm in the north, 1,100 mm in the west and 700 mm in the east and west.
The WUAs are constituted of male members who organize water distribution and collect water charges. Activities such as starting the pumps in the pumping stations, fertilizer injection in the drip system, and minor maintenance are confined to men. Women participate in the opening of hydrant valves, in the displacement of low-pressure sprinklers or flushing of drippers, and are attending the meetings of the WUA.
Water Management, Policies, and Legislation Related to Water Use in Agriculture
Institutions
The main institutions involved in the irrigation and water sub-sectors are:
- The Central Water Authority (CWA) under the Ministry of Public Utilities. The CWA is the premier institution created, in 1971. It is responsible for the control, development, and conservation of water resources as well as distribution of water to the industrial and domestic (including tourist) sectors.
- The Water Resources Unit (WRU) under the Ministry of Public Utilities. The WRU is responsible for the coordination of all activities concerning water resources management, water rights, licensing, and control of water user permits.
- The Irrigation Authority (IA), created in 1979. Its aim is to study the development of irrigation and prepare irrigation schemes for specific areas, to implement and manage irrigation projects and to undertake research on optimum water use.
Water Management
Water allocation for all different sectors, including agriculture, is determined by a High Powered Committee comprising all stakeholders in the water sector. Water requirements are computed every month for planning water releases from the reservoirs. Groundwater levels are monitored by the WRU, which also imposes restrictions during the dry months to avoid over-pumping. Farmers in public irrigation schemes group themselves into WUAs or Water Users’ Cooperative Societies (WUCS) under the Registrar of association act or the Cooperative act respectively. The Irrigation Authority has a Transfer Management Agreement with the WUA or WUCS where day-to-day operation is entrusted to the association or society.
Finances
The State undertakes capital investment in the implementation of public irrigation schemes. However, recently the beneficiaries have been encouraged to participate in contributing towards the purchase and installation of the field equipment. With the implementation of Participatory Irrigation Management, the WUAs are called upon to take full control of day-to-day operation. For the implementation of private schemes, agricultural loans are available from the state owned Development Bank of Mauritius at a rate of 8 percent. Farmers are at present billed annually on the basis of the cropped area. For the future it is envisaged to levy large planters on the basis of volume of water abstracted.
Policies and Legislation
The Policies Plan hinges on a four-pronged approach:
- Upgrading and consolidation of the conveyance system, mobilization of additional water resources by the construction of dams and drilling of deep boreholes and adoption of efficient irrigation techniques (sprinkler or drip) for the expansion of the irrigation sector.
- Formation and training of the WUAs in order to encourage participation in irrigation management.
- Application of a sound water tariff for irrigation to render schemes economically viable and socially acceptable.
- Reinforcement of the legal framework (River Canal Act and Groundwater Act) for an equitable distribution of water and its judicious use.
Water supply for irrigation is regulated by the River and Canal Act of 1863, the Groundwater Act of 1970 and the Irrigation Authority Act of 1979. Abstraction of water from rivers requires a water right duly granted by the Supreme Court. The WRU recommends water rights for applicants. For groundwater abstraction, drilling a borehole requires authorization from the WRU. The amount of water allowed to be withdrawn over a specific period is part of the Groundwater License.
Environment and Health
Agrochemical usage (pesticides and [[fertilizer]s]) in Mauritius is linked primarily to the intensive cultivation of sugar cane and some 7,000 ha under food crops and vegetables. For control of weeds in sugar cane, about 630 tonnes of herbicides are applied annually, the major ones being divron, atrazine, and 2-41. The application rate of fertilizer is within the limit of 600 kilograms per hectare (kg/ha). Today there is no risk of groundwater pollution from fertilizers and the nitrate (Nitrogen) concentration in groundwater is well below WHO threshold values. Waterlogging and salinization is normally not a problem in Mauritius.
The coastal areas in the north and east are subjected to seawater intrusion, particularly during drought periods when the aquifers are depressed. The water quality from reservoirs and boreholes is suitable for overhead irrigation. For drip irrigation water has to be filtered from algae and suspended solids before being distributed.
Perspectives for Agricultural Water Management
The agricultural sector today has to compete with the domestic (including tourism) and industrial sectors for access to water. Due to uncertainties in the export price for sugar cane to the EC, diversification into cash crops has become an incentive for raising revenue. Due to a constant rehabilitation program there is no abandoned irrigation infrastructure. Efforts are being geared to modernizing and making irrigation systems efficient.
Whereas the state is committed to mobilizing water resources, the construction of the infield irrigation infrastructure should be undertaken and financed by WUAs which are required to decide for themselves on matters of irrigation systems and operational practices.
Further Reading
- Central Water Authority, Ministry of Public Utilities. 1990. Updating of master plan for water resources, conclusion and recommendations. Ministry of Public Utilities.
- Central Statistics Office. 2002. Digest of agricultural statistics. Ministry of Economic Development, Financial Services & Corporate Affairs.
- Irrigation Planning Unit, Irrigation Authority. 2002. Survey of irrigated areas. Irrigation Authority.
- MEGA Design.1995. Environmental impact assessment of the Northern Plains Irrigation Project. DHV Consultants.
- Ministry of Public Utilities. 2003. Water Resources of Mauritius. Ministry of Public Utilities.
- Toolsee, N. 2003. Managing water resources, role of agriculture. Paper on symposium on agriculture.
- Water Profile of Mauritius, Food and Agriculture Organization.
- World Factbook: Mauritius, Central Intelligence Agency.
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