MADAGASCAR – Madagascar has signed two memoranda of understanding(MOU) with the Chinese seed company Yuan Longping High-Tech Agriculture Co. (Yuan’s Seed) to bolster its rice production sector and achieve food self-sufficiency.
The agreements, announced on September 9, focus on developing hybrid rice cultivation and local seed production. This partnership includes an initial hybrid rice production project on 2,000 hectares in Betsipotika, with a long-term goal to expand cultivation to 300,000 hectares.
The initiative aims to address Madagascar’s food security needs by enhancing rice yields.
Rice is a staple food for the Malagasy population, and the country typically imports around 10% of its rice needs.
Madagascar produces about 85% of its milled rice consumption, which amounts to more than 3.8 million tonnes per year, according to the FAO. The cereal is grown on more than 1.6 million hectares.
However, the volume of rice imports has plummeted by 43%, from 744,846 tons in 2022 to just 424,000 tons in 2023.
According to official data, experiments carried out on hybrid rice in Madagascar have produced a yield of 8.5 tonnes per hectare, which is three times higher than the average yield of conventional rice, which is between 2.45 and 2.7 tonnes.
“What we want is a large-scale popularization of hybrid rice. We cannot wait five years to see results; we must act immediately,” declared President Andry Rajoelina.
In 2023, Madagascar experienced a significant decrease in rice import costs due to improved domestic production, facilitated by favorable agricultural conditions and government support measures, such as subsidies and infrastructure improvements.
Additionally, the partnership with Yuan’s Seed complements existing collaborations, including the “K-Ricebelt Project” with South Korea, aimed at boosting rice production across Africa.
Under this initiative, advanced rice production complexes are being established in key regions, enhancing local capacities in seed supply, storage, and processing.
The partnership comes after the Ministry of Agriculture reported a 36% reduction in its rice import bill for 2023.
This decline, which translates to a decrease from 1,364 billion ariary (US$299 million) in 2022 to 876.6 billion ariary (US$192.3 million) this year, reflects a strategic shift in the nation’s reliance on rice imports.
The data, compiled by the Directorate General of Customs, highlights Madagascar’s growing self-sufficiency.
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