Increase capacity-building in the fishing community of Rodrigues through training for organic cultivation of the combava lime plant (C. hystrix) and its chilli paste

The Rodrigues fishing community is largely focused on massive fishing activities, to the detriment of the marine ecosystem. To improve this situation, the Commission of Environment and Fisheries introduced an “octopus closing period” to shift the local people away from fishing and towards alternative livelihoods, such as cleaning up and beautifying their local communities, for a limited period. This project will take a very similar approach, supporting the fishing community, mainly women, by enhancing their capacities and shifting them towards more sustainable and green alternative livelihoods. The project aims to create and promote a sustainable agro-tourism venture to provide employment for this  group. The cultivation and production of combava, or C. hystrix by its Latin name, is an opportunity for the fisher folk to move into a sector that will be lucrative over the long term, and at the same time to train them in organic cultivation and production techniques that will encourage them to diversify into greener, more sustainable sources of income that will enhance overall island sustainability.