Local rice producers, upland farmers, and forest users from four regions will have access to improved irrigation services, agricultural inputs, and service delivery
WASHINGTON, March 23, 2017 – Today, Madagascar received $78.7 million to reduce the degradation of its natural resources and to increase access to improved irrigation services, agricultural inputs, and agricultural and forestry services. The funding consists of a $65 million credit by the World Bank and a $13.7 million grant by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
“This new project for Madagascar seeks to tackle complex environmental challenges through a more integrated, multi-stakeholder approach. By restoring and sustainably managing the natural capital provided by agricultural lands, forests and protected areas, it will benefit more than 38,000 rural people,” said Jean-Marc Sinnassamy, program manager at the GEF. “The project integrates the agriculture, water, and environment sectors in an innovative landscape approach, and will make a major contribution to Madagascar’s engagement with the Bonn Challenge, through which they aim to restore 4 million ha of forest landscapes by 2030.”
Four out of five Malagasy depend directly on land, water and forests, for their livelihoods. Agriculture is either a principal or secondary economic activity for 81 percent of all households. However, Madagascar’s wealth, and consequently its development potential and productivity in the rural space where the majority of the population lives, is being severely eroded. Its total wealth declined by 10 percent in real terms between 2005 and 2011, and its natural capital by 26 percent. This drop was associated with a 33 percent drop in cropland potential, a 31 percent drop in pastureland, and a 42 percent drop in non-timber forest value.
“The Sustainable Landscape Management project will take care of reducing the degradation of soils and forests, managing water resources and increasing agriculture productivity and people’s livelihoods in an integrated manner,” said Jan Nijhoff, Gianni Ruta and Shelley Mcmillan, World Bank Task Team Leaders of the Project. The project will be implemented in Andapa (Sava region), Iazafo and Soanierana Ivongo (Analanjirofo region), Bealanana (Sofia region) and Marovoay (Boeny region).
