Madagascar's irrigation initiatives: giving hope to agricultural challenges

As the fourth largest island in the world, Madagascar represents a special case when it comes to how it is affected by environmental change, especially when it comes to water. It is located 400 km from the southeastern African coast and has an extremely complex geography, leading to a varying climate for its different regions (see map below).

    To explain to you better (Fig. 1):

• Madagascar’s East is known to have a warm and tropical climate.
• The Northern part of the island has a similar climate, however it experiences intense rainfall events in summer due to the monsoon.
• The Southern region has a semi-arid climate and the central part a tropical climate, with numerous mountain ranges

It is also essential to note that Madagascar is in the inter-tropical convergence zone, which is one of the world’s most important rainfall belts. This causes different rainfall patterns each season.

Fig. 1: Map of Madagascar showing differences in climate (Nematchoua, 2017).

Decentralisation of land

As I explained in the previous case study, Sudan feels climate change's effects on agriculture through smallholder farming. Similarly, farmers in Madagascar work on extremely small land (<1.2ha) with low crop yields (Fig. 2). Limited water availability has a direct impact on agricultural productivity, pushing the population to face important challenges.

Fig. 2: Relay famers (multiple cropping system) in Madagascar

Addressing water scarcity in each region of the island means taking initiatives to ensure sustainable irrigation systems. Madagascar's initiatives consist of installing a step-by-step support to decentralise the land.

• Firstly, the government focuses on land rights, transferring them to local governments, then subdividing land at the community level (Fig. 3).
• The next step consists of increasing collaboration and communication between stakeholders (Fig. 3).

Combining farmers and local communities’ knowledge, irrigation practices adapt according to local conditions.

This approach accounts for climate variability of the island and encourages local management.

Fig. 3: An African woman preparing to participate in 'responsible land policy' implementation in Madagascar
(Land Portal Foundation)

The case of the Corridor Ankeniheny-Zahamena

Diving further into the heart of Eastern Madagascar, the Corridor Ankeniheny-Zahamena (CAZ) reveals a mosaic of agricultural methods extending beyond rainfed rice fields (Fig. 4). The map below depicts local farmers' participation in various practices, from fish framing to beekeeping, encouraging a harmonious cohabitation with the forest and protected area (Fig. 4).

This region is therefore known for its efforts in adopting sustainable farming methods, essential in a region where rainfed cultivation is a primary food source and extremely threatened by environmental change (Fig. 5). These practices not only ensure food security but also show the commitment this region has to sustainable agriculture.

Fig. 4: Map showing the Ankeniheny Zahamena Corridor in Eastern Madagascar and different agricultural practices
(Brimont et al., 2015).

Looking from a broader context, these sustainable agricultural practices are quite significant when it comes to the island's strategy to decentralise land management. As Madagascar embraces the empowerment of local communities, these practices are symbolic in becoming self-sufficient and resilient. They exemplify the ability to adapt in a decentralised framework, highlighting the importance of community participation in irrigation development.