Switching to sustainable agriculture practices
Priority activities include improved rice cultivation schemes, cover crops, beekeeping, fruit growing, and improved seeds.
Irrigation scheme
In addition, local populations is asking for irrigation infrastrucutre in a zone assigned to agriculture activities but not yet exploited, to help rice cultivation. Farmers who will benefit from it have promised to stop slash and burn practices.
It is expected that these improved practices will compensate for the areas farmers are losing by giving up slash and burn practices.
Rice under cover legumes
Honey, rice and oranges
Improved beekeeping, rice under cover and orange trees are three concrete examples of improved agriculture techniques used in Fandriana Marolambo.
Improved beekeeping: bee hives are not displaced in the forest following the winds and associated pollination anymore. They are set in a fixed, favorable, area where bees can feed permanently.
Rice under cover legumes: this kind of rice grows directly on hillsides and not in paddy fields. Cover legumes are grown first as they accumulate nitrogen and have often weed-suppressing properties. As a result, subsequent rice yields are notably increased – a threefold increase in average.
Farmers in the region particularly like oranges trees, which tend to be very productive. However, these fruit trees are not easy to grow and maintain. Training is provided to farmers who want to grow them.
Improved beekeeping: bee hives are not displaced in the forest following the winds and associated pollination anymore. They are set in a fixed, favorable, area where bees can feed permanently.
Rice under cover legumes: this kind of rice grows directly on hillsides and not in paddy fields. Cover legumes are grown first as they accumulate nitrogen and have often weed-suppressing properties. As a result, subsequent rice yields are notably increased – a threefold increase in average.
Farmers in the region particularly like oranges trees, which tend to be very productive. However, these fruit trees are not easy to grow and maintain. Training is provided to farmers who want to grow them.
