This FAO-China South–South Cooperation (SSC) project aimed to improve food security and agricultural productivity in Madagascar by promoting hybrid rice, small ruminant farming, and agribusiness development.
• Project Achievements:
• 1,007 rice growers trained in hybrid rice techniques, 59% of whom were women.
• 5,537 farmers benefited from training, with 2,250 adopting Chinese farming techniques.
• Eighteen hybrid rice demonstration plots were established.
• Ten-hectare rice test farm set up in Mahitsy to promote large-scale hybrid rice cultivation.
• Thirty thousand Juncao fodder cuttings distributed to 241 farmers for sustainable livestock feed.
• Impact:
• Hybrid rice increased yields significantly, supporting Madagascar’s goal of rice self-sufficiency by 2025.
• Small ruminant farming programs improved breed selection and disease control.
• Agribusiness training helped farmers develop market strategies and value chains.
The project demonstrated the viability of hybrid rice and small ruminant farming in boosting food production and farmer incomes
Photo Credit: Canva