Rice culture in Madagascar - Tradition against Survival (47 images)

The population of Mahabo, as in most part of Madagascar, lives serious economic problems and seasonal periods of important food shortage, in spite of seeds given and changes suggested by the mayor, Martin-Pierre Rakotoson. An economy and a diet based mainly on rice monoculture, economic pressure and unsuited practices of culture are not enough to feed the population which was seen quadrupled in the last decades. Several months per year, they undergo food shortage where they feed only from...
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The population of Mahabo, as in most part of Madagascar, lives serious economic problems and seasonal periods of important food shortage, in spite of seeds given and changes suggested by the mayor, Martin-Pierre Rakotoson. An economy and a diet based mainly on rice monoculture, economic pressure and unsuited practices of culture are not enough to feed the population which was seen quadrupled in the last decades. Several months per year, they undergo food shortage where they feed only from Manioc, once a day. Very few know how to complete their diet and their income on other agricultural harvest even if the climate permit a wide variety of food production, causing malnutrition problems like hypocalcemia.

The culture of rice requires long months and several people must work from September to June, leaving little time for other economic activities to the peasants. It requires an important moisture: thus involving a strong domestic water consumption.

Transport is another problem for peasants. Peasants must travel several kilometers in wooden cart drawn by Zebu to reach asphalt roads. After having sold their own rice for exportation, madagascan have to rely on imported high priced and low quality rice for their diet wich they can't afford.

To increase their income, peasant carbonize the stocks of the cut trees, in order to manufacture and sell produced coal. Suggestions and solutions brought by the mayor, would allow retimbered forest and to preserve it for a healthy management of the commune's ressources. The peasants living a situation of survival, don't want to change their practices. They feed the family fire for the cooking of daily rice with coal made from drastically diminushing forest.

The mayor try to stimulate change. Some Peasants buy orange trees, at very low cost, from him to increase their food and income production. Every year, canadian nursing students, give talk at the mayor's request. They hope to sow change for next generation.
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