MAHAVOTRA: Forestry, agroforestry, and land use planning in the Itasy region

CONTEXT

With a poverty rate of almost 80% in 2018, development challenges in the Itasy region remain significant. Agricultural households are facing a reduction in the size of farms and a tension on access to resources (water, fertile land, etc.) due to population growth which has doubled in 25 years. This situation is exacerbated by the strong fragility of agricultural areas, especially with the massive erosion of slopes. Climate change further disturbs this precarious balance: irregularities in rains, disrupted seasons...  

In this context, the vulnerability of agricultural households is increased, even though Itasy is an agricultural region with agro-climatic assets and a long-established tradition of economically interesting activities (vegetables, fruits, short-cycle livestock farming). 

Since 2008, Agrisud and its partners have been working within the framework of decentralized cooperation between the Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Itasy regions with actions to professionalize the agricultural sector, land use planning initiatives, as well as training and awareness-raising for sustainable development. 

OBJECTIVES AND SOLUTIONS PROVIDED

The project is now part of the Agriter programme, which aims at strengthening the dynamics carried by the stakeholders of the territories to promote sustainable family farming. 

Its aim is to: 

• Strengthen the territorial collectivities in their capacity to plan and manage the territory to achieve an agroecological transition  
• Support family farms and small service or agro-processing enterprises in improving their operations  
• Promote a sustainable and inclusive agricultural development approach through skills transfer, awareness-raising and advocacy actions 

RESULTS

• 15 municipalities supported in their agroecological transition 
• 838 VSEs assisted in the improvement of their agricultural and para-agricultural activities 
• 3,240 people trained or educated on sustainable agriculture issues (50% of whom are young) 

KEY PROJECT INFORMATION