Inclusive climate-resilient rice farming takes center stage in Madagascar
Farmers cultivate individual plots, store rice collectively, and sell during lean seasons.
MADAGASCAR – During a landmark visit to Madagascar on July 26, 2025, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu spotlighted the country’s strides in building inclusive and climate-resilient agrifood systems.
His tour of field sites underscored the impact of collaborative efforts between FAO, national authorities, local cooperatives, and the private sector.
One of the highlights was a visit to a 70-hectare rice production site managed by a cooperative of five farmer associations, representing around 300 households, two-thirds of which are led by women.
Operating under the Papriz initiative, supported by JICA and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, the cooperative uses valin-tanana, a traditional mutual aid system.
Farmers cultivate individual plots, store rice collectively, and sell during lean seasons, enhancing food security and economic resilience.
In Mahitsy municipality, QU Dongyu visited a hybrid rice site managed by Yuan’s Hybrid Rice Company, a public–private venture supported by FAO’s South–South Cooperation Programme.
The initiative has reached over 1,000 rice growers, 59% of them women, through demonstration plots and tailored training.
Yuan’s company continues to provide inputs on credit and technical guidance, driving the adoption of climate-resilient rice varieties and improving market access.
Additionally, the Director-General visited a caged fish farming facility operated by Royal Tilapia, a company born from an FAO-supported pilot.
Now a fully professional operation backed by the Ministry of Fisheries and Blue Economy, Royal Tilapia partners with 40 cooperative associations, offering fingerlings and organic feed while purchasing harvested fish through a profit-sharing model.
This initiative has boosted employment, strengthened food systems, and set a benchmark for inclusive aquaculture.
Madagascar is one leg of the Director-General’s broader African tour, which includes Sierra Leone, Uganda, and Ethiopia. His engagements reflect FAO’s commitment to transforming agrifood systems, promoting gender equity, and enhancing climate resilience across the continent.
As Madagascar faces mounting climate challenges, these initiatives offer a blueprint for inclusive growth, sustainable agriculture, and empowered rural communities.
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