| When signing the partnership agreement. |
The State wants to boost agricultural production on the Big Island to achieve food self-sufficiency. Private sector companies adhere to this vision and will contribute to the massive production of fertilizers to raise yield per hectare to a higher level.
Establishing fertilizer factories and encouraging the use of this input to boost agricultural production: this is the strategy adopted by the State, which is working in concert with private sector companies to install these factories in six regions of the island. This week, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock as well as six private companies working in the production of agricultural inputs signed a partnership agreement to this effect.
According to Suzelin Ratohiarijaona, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, this partnership between the State and the private sector responds to the ambitions set in the General Policy of the State, in relation to food self-sufficiency. This shows the commitment of these private sector companies to move forward to boost agricultural yield on the Big Island. “Fertilizer production can drastically improve agricultural yield. As part of the policy set for the hundred days by the State, these private sector companies have provided their support to support agricultural growth in the first six regions where this will be carried out initially,” explains the member of the government.
The State is thus committed to supporting the activities of these companies and facilitating them to obtain more yield per hectare. These companies will then work harder to produce more fertilizer. Michael Andriamparany, manager of the Zina fertilizer company, testifies to this desire. “We produce around two hundred tonnes of fertilizer every year. With this partnership, we estimate that we could increase up to two thousand tonnes per year,” he attests.
Advantage
The Analamanga, Alaotra-Mangoro, Amoron’i Mania, Sofia and Atsinanana regions will benefit from this project. Voahanginiriana Ramaromisa represents the company “Manarivo” and indicates the willingness of private sector companies to engage with the State to pursue the objective of raising agricultural yield. “We hope that the projects that will be carried out will lead to effective food self-sufficiency,” she concedes.
The same goes for his peers. As Tovonanahary Rabetsitonta, CEO of the Indian Ocean Trading company, says: “The government is aware that working with the private sector represents a considerable advantage and will yield convincing results. In the pre-established agreement, you outlined that if we increase our rice production by 25%, not only will we achieve food self-sufficiency, but we will also have a surplus that we can export. he told the minister. Rice importation is already on a downward trend. Encouraging local production will ultimately reduce imports. This could only be beneficial for the local economy and could also curb inflation, if only by an inch.
Itamara Randriamamonjy