Agriculture is returning to the heart of national priorities. The tone was set by the Head of State in Antsirabe on Saturday, with the provision of resources to farmers to boost production.
Produce more. This leitmotif was proclaimed by Colonel Michaël Randrianirina, Head of State, to the farmers of Antsirabe on Saturday. Produce more to stop depending on imports. Produce more to achieve food sovereignty. Produce more so that agriculture becomes a driver of development.
“Since the beginning of the Refoundation government eleven months ago, we have only been filling gaps. Gaps in the water sector. Gaps in the electricity sector. Gaps in the road sector. Now, we are going to change course. The country is vulnerable because we do not have a sufficiently effective policy to support the farmers who make up 80% of the population. With a strong agricultural sector, the State will be strong. This is why, starting today, we are going to strengthen support for farmers and the agricultural sector,” declared the occupant of Iavoloha.
In Antsirabe, the State gave a glimpse of the direction it intends to give to the agricultural sector nationwide. Tractors, equipment, seeds, fertilizers, and support for producers are the main levers mobilized to modernize production and lay the foundations for true food sovereignty. The State clearly wanted to demonstrate the translation of this ambition into action in the capital of the Vakinankaratra region. Eleven Massey Ferguson tractors with plows, sprayers, rotavators, seeders, and trailers were handed over on Saturday. The goal is the mechanization of the sector to expand cultivated areas, increase yields, and alleviate the arduousness of labor.
Rice is one of the main issues of this policy. As the staple food of Malagasy people, it also represents a significant part of economic activity. However, the senior officer acknowledges that the insufficiency of national production still forces Madagascar to resort to imports to cover its needs.
“It is sad that we are still forced to import rice. On the contrary, Madagascar should be an exporting country. Agriculture must be a lever for the country’s development,” he maintained in his speech. These words affirm the state’s ambition for this sector.
The modernization of rice farming appears as an unavoidable step to achieve food sovereignty. In Antsirabe, the support includes 320 kilograms of improved rice seeds, in addition to corn seeds, organic and mineral fertilizers. More than two hundred farmers in Antsirabe are expected to benefit directly from these inputs. The plan also provides two hundred bicycles and backpacks for relay farmers tasked with transmitting techniques and assisting producers. Sixty tarpaulins will also be distributed to farmers’ organizations to facilitate drying and reduce post-harvest losses.
Mechanization is expected to go beyond the Vakinankaratra region. The system is set to be deployed in other regions, notably Melaky, Analamanga, Itasy, and Anosy. By integrating equipment already available from private operators, the authorities are counting on approximately 11,000 hectares being worked each year through mechanization. The stated goal goes beyond merely reducing imports. Ultimately, the objective is to shift agriculture from a subsistence logic to a production logic capable of generating surpluses for export, according to the Head of State. Transforming agriculture, creating a value chain, and making it a job-generating sector and a significant source of income for the country are part of the plans.
Captured & Published at: 2026-09-21 06:08:35 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/09/antsirabe-letat-soutient-les.html
