In the Itasy region, measures to fight the spread of Covid-19 pandemic caused major disruptions to the running of farms and agricultural chains, which increased the food insecurity in specific areas and affected the income of rural households.

To face this situation, the ARENA project aims to sustainably reinforce the economical, nutritional and food resilience of the most vulnerable families who suffer malnutrition. It hinges on 3 actions:

• the short-term revival of production capacities of the families impacted by the crisis due to Covid-19

• the reinforcement of skills to allow these families to sustainably produce a healthy and diversified nutrition

• the support of families to design collective strategies to reduce malnutrition and increase their resilience to crisis

Agroecology presents several benefits, such as the improvement of farms' productivity, the preservation of natural resources, the valuation of local know-how...  In dry areas, usually poor and threatened by climate unbalances, it contributes to maintaining biodiversity, restoring agro-ecosystems and reaching nutritional and food security of the populations.

The Avaclim project aims to create the necessary conditions to spread agroecology in 7 countries located in a dry area: Burkina Faso, Senegal, Morocco, Ethiopia, South Africa, Brazil and India.

The ONG CARI carries this project and got together with a diversity of operators (development practitioners, farmers and scientists) including Agrisud, which coordinates the activities in Morocco with its partner the Norsys Foundation.

The 4 elements of the project: 

► sharing experiences and reinforcing capacities

► assessing agroecological initiatives

► plea

► capitalization and communication

Family food-producing farming at the periphery of Abidjan contributes to reaching food security in the economic capital city and has a commercial vocation.

However, it is threatened because of: a growing urbanization, a decrease in yields, health and environmental risks linked to the overuse of pesticides and herbicides, a lack of supporting systems...

Manioc is one of the main profitable farmings in Ivory Coast. However, hand-made or semi-industrial processing units of manioc into attiéké   (fermented manioc semolina), have low technical and economical performances.

It is within this context that Agrisud takes action, in close collaboration with the authorities of the Autonomous District of Abidjan (ADA), as a part of the PROFIT Abidjan project.

This pilot project, which  is part of the AGRITER programme phase II (2021-2023),
takes place in 2 villages from ADA : Adattié and Abiaté 2.

It aims to reinforce the economic and social dynamics conducted by the stakeholders of the territory in order to:

• conceive and implement projects for a sustainable agriculture at a territorial scale, about the food-producing and local attiéké value-chains

• support the food-producing farms in their agroecological transition

• reinforce the performances of processing units

• develop knowledge and know-how in the territory through transfering skills, awareness and advocacy actions

Since late 2008, Club Med and Agrisud International have been collaborating to improve the contribution of holiday villages to local economic development.

The co-developed solution therefore consists in strengthening local supply chains on a win-win principle:

• Club Med villages benefit from quality agro-ecological products, traceability and, ultimately, a positive image valued by their customers;
• family farms are improving their practices in order to have quality products, in quantity and regularity, and benefit from a new sales channel (improvement in income).

Since the start of 2019, the villages of Albion and Pointe aux Canonniers, on Mauritius, have been part of this process. The development of new agricultural practices that are more respectful of the environment are in line with the national strategies in force on the island.

This action contributes to 6 of the Sustainable Development Goals:

Since late 2008, Club Med and Agrisud International have been collaborating to improve the contribution of holiday villages to local economic development.

The objective of the project is to develop responsible tourism that further contributes to poverty reduction by empowering local communities through the appropriation of agroecology, as well as by improving their traditional know-how. and their business skills.

A first diagnostic step, in October 2017, made it possible to analyze the market and assess the feasibility on the site of the Guilin holiday village. A connection then enabled the various stakeholders to express their interest and establish close collaboration for the project which was launched in early 2019.

This action contributes to 6 of the Sustainable Development Goals:

More than ever, agriculture is at the heart of the development challenges of Itasy, due to climatic and demographic risks, the weight of political uncertainty on the socio-economic context, and the difficulty of institutions facing the problems food security, education and professional integration.

Since 2012, actions in the field of Agricultural and Rural Training (FAR) have been deployed within the framework of national public policies. It is therefore now a question of supporting their implementation at the level of the Itasy Region, both within institutions and training establishments.

To do so, Agrisud, the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region, the Itasy Region and their partners act at several levels: training, institutional support and capacity building among others.

The project is structured around three axes and meets the following specific objectives:

• strengthening the institutional base and the partnership mechanism for Agricultural and Rural Training (FAR);
• establishment of the Regional Center for Professional Agricultural Training (CRFPA) in the territory as a pilot tool for the development of sustainable agriculture;
• support for the integration of agricultural and rural training into public education in the Itasy Region.

By its multi-stakeholder dimension and its location in a region with a high stake in rural development, this project aims to be a source of inspiration for Malagasy national policies.

In the Limbé watershed, the farms of Haitian peasant families are subject to significant constraints. The erosion of sloping soils reduces the quality and size of exploitable plots, does not make it possible to secure the crops in progress and threatens the Piedmont and plain crops downstream.

Experience has shown that the development of watersheds must be oriented towards actions relating to local development which take into account the economic and social aspects by integrating the empowerment of local actors. It is therefore urgent to propose rural development models that make it possible to reconcile income generation, protection and restoration of natural resources and adaptation to climate change.

The project aims to sustainably improve the income of peasant families through the development of sustainable agriculture at the territorial level. The expected results are as follows:

• efficient agricultural systems at technical, economic and environmental levels are implemented by 150 farming families;
• 20 master operators are strengthened, network and join PADED (Agroecology and sustainable development platform);
• access to quality water is guaranteed for 200 families (1,000 people);
• PADED* members are strengthened in their capacity to collect and process data for quality counseling support to families and the production of advocacy documents.

*Agroecology and Sustainable Development Platform

Agroecology and Resilient territories

This program aims to improve the environmental and economic performance of polyculture and livestock production systems for better resilience of family farms to climate risks.

This involves carrying out research and support, capacity building and dissemination to farms in order to:

• promote the adaptation and improvement of sustainable and resilient agricultural systems;
• providing families with the knowledge and tools to adapt to climate change;
• create a conducive environment to better cope with agricultural constraints.

500 farms (20 groups) in the municipality of St Raphaël are involved in the co-construction and dissemination of agro-ecological systems and practices. 5 Haitian students from the Limonade university campus (doctoral students, masters and field internships) will be trained and will participate in the research carried out by the program.

Agroecology and energy complex

Soon after the installation of its Ouarzazate solar energy complex in Ghassate, MASEN sought for Agrisud’s support in order to help build momentum for sustainable economic growth in favour of the local community.

In cooperation with ORMVAO and the Norsys Foundation, pilot actions were launched in mid 2014. Their main goal was the professionalisation of family farms in various zones of Ghassate. The method used encouraged the dissemination of knowledge towards other farms.

Within 2 years, 119 families adopted better practices in vegetable and fruit cultivation as well as in small animal farming. New commercial sectors were explored, revenues increased and business dynamics was created.

The expansion phase started for 350 VSB on November 1^st in 2016.