A Year-Round Harvest… Growing Food Security, Climate Resilience, and Livelihoods
In southeast Madagascar, where communities rely heavily on local land and natural resources, livelihoods are under increasing pressure from climate shocks, environmental degradation, and unpredictable foreign aid. The unprecedented dry spell in late 2024 serves as a recent and devastating example, with failed harvests worsening already critical levels of food insecurity. Meanwhile, traditional slash-and-burn farming, locally known as tavy, continues to fuel deforestation, degrade fragile soils, and increase wildfire risks.
In response to these converging challenges, SEED Madagascar has launched an agroforestry pilot project, embedded within our Sekoly Maintso (Green School) initiative. This new project, running from March 2025 to February 2026, is rooted – quite literally – in the grounds of Tsagnoriha Primary School, a SEED-built school in the Anosy region. It seeks to promote sustainable farming practices, strengthen climate resilience, and reinforce food security.
Agroforestry: A Solution for Sustainable Land Cultivation and Food Security
Agroforestry, the integrated cultivation of crops and trees on the same land, offers a sustainable, regenerative approach that combines the benefits of agriculture and forestry. This approach has proven effective in restoring degraded soils, improving water retention, increasing carbon sequestration, and fostering greater biodiversity. Importantly, agroforestry also provides a pathway to improved food security for local communities.
Situated next to Tsagnoriha Primary School, the approximately 3,000 m2 agroforestry pilot site is being developed with the aim of ensuring a consistent, year-round harvest that supplements the schoolchildren’s nutrition - helping to diversify their diets and support overall health and wellbeing. Importantly, this pilot also seeks to promote the adoption of more resilient farming practices within the Tsagnoriha community by demonstrating sustainable solutions that balance environmental restoration with productive and resilient land use - an increasingly urgent need across Madagascar, where around 80% of families rely on subsistence farming. Beyond its immediate impact, the pilot also seeks to generate valuable lessons that can inform the future scalability of the project.
Project Progress Rooted in Community Efforts
Since its launch, the site has seen remarkable growth. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of community members in clearing the land, a small nursery and 40 planting beds now thrive with a wide range of crops, while Moringa oleifera and various fruit tree seedlings are beginning to take root across the site. So far, SEED-provided training sessions have equipped project participants with essential skills in land preparation and maintenance, organic pest control, harvesting, composting and waste management, and nutritional food preparation. These efforts help build local knowledge and capacity, with the aim of spreading sustainable practices throughout the community. Two local women, experienced in organic vegetable farming, have stepped up as community planting leads, managing the site with support from dedicated parents. Meanwhile, students actively participate in sowing and harvesting activities, bringing environmental lessons to life through hands-on engagement. The collective effort of community members, teachers, and schoolchildren demonstrate a shared commitment to restoring the land and securing livelihoods in a challenging climate context.
"Communities will benefit because we’re bringing new experiences into this school, which can also help them improve their farming outside of here. I’m very happy to be part of this project. I’m also gaining valuable experience from it"
Madame Caroline, Agroforestry Community Planting Lead
harvesting cucumbers.
A Local Response to Global Challenges
As Madagascar grapples with the converging pressures of climate change, deforestation, and uncertain aid support, there is an urgent need for innovative, community-led solutions. This agroforestry pilot at Tsagnoriha Primary School stands as a promising example: cultivating a living, learning ecosystem that restores the land and empowers project participants. While challenges are inevitable, so too must be our collective response, ensuring that the roots of resilience run deep.
SEED’s 2025 Christmas Appeal will celebrate this exciting new work, allowing our supporters to help deliver benefits to health, education, and the environment - the holistic approach that SEED prides itself on.
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