Faced with market fluctuations, the State Procurement of Madagascar (SPM) is intervening directly at the source. In the Amparafaravola district, specifically in Tanambe, the paddy rice collection campaign began on Monday, September 14, at a rate of 1,500 ariary per kilo, an initiative aimed at securing farmers’ incomes and regulating prices.
In Tanambe, the SPM expects to acquire 700 tons of paddy. Operations will then expand to Andilamena, where 500 tons will be collected, followed by Ampitatsimo (Ambatondrazaka district) for a volume of 300 tons. In total, the state-owned enterprise aims to mobilize 1,500 tons of rice in the Alaotra-Mangoro region within three days. In Betafo, in the Vakinankaratra region, the volume planned for this first phase could reach 50 tons.
This public purchasing policy primarily allows farmers to sell their production at a significantly more remunerative price than that of the free market. “In Tanambe, the injection of this 1,500 ariary per kilo changes the game,” explains Lovasoa Thierry Randriatahiana, mayor of the commune. According to the mayor, this mechanism effectively supports agricultural households, whereas paddy was previously trading around 1,250 ariary per kilo in the locality.
The Secretary General of the Ministry of Trade and Consumption, Jules Christian Rakotoson, recalls that the SPM is acting here as a regulator. The state company deals directly with cooperatives and farmers, supported by local authorities who oversee logistics on the ground. The supervising ministry, for its part, ensures the strategic steering of this government measure.
The terms of this campaign were the subject of a roundtable on September 13. This meeting brought together the Director General of the SPM, Guillot Ramilison, elected officials from the region, deputies, the head of the Ambatondrazaka district, the regional director of Trade, and representatives of the municipalities.
The operation is not limited to purchasing alone. According to the ministry’s secretary general, the rice acquired by the SPM will be quickly transported to processing plants to avoid losses related to prolonged storage. Partner wholesalers will then take over to ensure distribution to regions experiencing supply deficits, such as Atsimo-Atsinanana, Atsimo, and Antananarivo.
The Ministry of Trade intends to closely monitor the entire value chain, from the initial purchase price to resale to consumers. This rigorous monitoring of volumes and commercial margins aims to stabilize the market and limit any attempts at speculation or stock hoarding.
In the longer term, the ministerial roadmap provides for the establishment of a mapping of supply flows. The objective is to precisely identify surplus production basins to quickly shift stocks to regions in shortage, thereby ensuring the country’s food security.
Captured & Published at: 2026-09-16 05:53:47 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/09/prix-du-paddy-la-spm-garantit-un.html
