Dr. Chandan Jankee: "We should not wait for a shortage to take action"

According to Dr. Chandan Jankee, a rise in prices seems inevitable given the current context. The most affected will be the lower-income households, already struggling with the increasing cost of living. "For some time now, certain prices have been rising without clear explanation. It is possible that some merchants are taking advantage of the situation. Given what is happening in the Middle East, the government will need to control prices and enhance monitoring to prevent abuses," recommends the economist.

Dr. Chandan Jankee suggests implementing a rationing system for certain essential products, including fuel. "We should not wait for a shortage to take action. If necessary, we must ration to ensure everyone has access to essential products."

Another recommendation: Mauritius needs to diversify its import markets further. "We should look towards nearby countries like Madagascar, India, and several African nations, where products are sometimes cheaper," he suggests. He advocates for easing some procedures to facilitate imports in this exceptional context.

In the short and medium term, Chandan Jankee emphasizes the need to strengthen local production. "We have been talking about food security for over twenty years, but nothing has been done." According to him, the state must provide more support to producers, protect agricultural lands, and prevent fertile land from being converted into real estate projects. He also advocates for better use of new agricultural technologies and for the development of agro-processing.