Building Resilient Food Systems: One CGIAR's Impact through FSRP in Madagascar

Picture 1: Field visit in Tsaramandroso, Boeny region with experts from CRR Boeny and DRA of FOFIFA, SOC, ABC, ICRISAT, IITA, ILRI and AfricaRice exploring the VATE and DHS off-season trials of sorghom and niebe (Photo credit: AfricaRice)

July 11, 2024, Antananarivo, Madagascar — Six CGIAR centers, in collaboration with Madagascar's national research, innovation, and seed governance entities, have developed and launched a project titled "Supporting the Transformation and Resilience of Madagascar's Food Systems". This project, funded by the World Bank, will be implemented through the Food Systems Resilience Program (FSRP). Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice) is leveraging CGIAR's commitment to contribute and deliver research and innovations aligned with national needs and priorities, rooted in the CGIAR Partnership Engagement Framework.

Faced with worsening poverty and stagnating agricultural performance in rural areas, the FSRP is implemented to restore, strengthen, and secure the productive bases of rural households, aiming for sustainable agricultural transformation ensuring a decent living for farmers’ families. In Madagascar, the FSRP under the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MINAE), aims to enhance the agricultural sector's performance, boost productivity, reduce the environmental footprint through sustainable natural resource management, and promote climate-smart agricultural technologies. Agricultural research institutions, innovation centers, and seed governance bodies are pivotal in transforming and strengthening the resilience of Madagascar's food systems. They drive this change through climate-resilient innovations and technologies, leveraging science and technology to enable sustainable recovery and adaptability to stresses and shocks. These practices enable beneficiaries to produce effectively and access markets under favorable conditions.

Implementing the FSRP is based on four main pillars:

·       Pillar 1: Diagnosis and institutional strengthening

·       Pillar 2: Innovations for resilience in food production systems

·       Pillar 3: Resilient seed systems

·       Pillar 4: Promoting and disseminating tailored technologies and innovations

Picture 2: Meeting with the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock of Madagascar, Mr. Suzelin Ratohiarijaona, focused on the co-learning opportunities between the CGIAR and national institutions (Photo credit: AfricaRice)

AfricaRice, leading the action, Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, CIP, IITA, ICRISAT and ILRI, have joined hands together with the national agricultural research and development institutions (FOFIFA (Centre National de la Recherche Appliquée au Développement Rural / Foibem-pirenena momba ny Fikarohana ampiharina amin’ny Fampandrosoana ny eny Ambanivohitra) and FIFAMANOR (Fiompiana Fambolena Malagasy Norveziana)), CFFAMMA (Centre de Fabrication, de Formation et d'Application du Machinisme et de la Mécanisation Agricole) specializing in agricultural mechanization) and the SOC regulating seed quality control to support the transformation and resilience of Madagascar's food systems through climate-resilient innovations, technologies and practices that enable smallholders to combat environmental degradation and by providing modern methods of plant and animal breeding to achieve tolerance to various environmental stresses and resistance to various pests and diseases. Each CGIAR center is paired with the departments and regional centers mandated with the crop, supporting the scientific tasks of co-producing technologies and innovations (varieties, tools, methodologies, agricultural equipment), capacity building towards researchers and seed governance staff and for the end-users, and providing advice and advocacy. This project is expected to benefit 5000 households, including 40% of women in Madagascar.

About the Food Systems Resilience Program (FSRP) 

The Food System Resilience Program (FSRP) is a regional investment program financed by the World Bank. The goal of the FSRP is to enhance the management of risks associated with regional food systems, improve the sustainability of production bases in targeted areas, and develop regional agricultural markets.