Project Saha Sekoly
Restoring soil, strengthening local food systems, and providing education to communities to improve climate resilience and support biodiversity.
In southeast Madagascar, where communities rely heavily on local land and natural resources, smallholder farmers face increasing pressure from climate shocks, environmental degradation, and low agricultural productivity. Traditional land use practices continue to fuel deforestation, soil degradation, and increase wildfire risks, threatening both livelihoods and local ecosystems. In response to these challenges, SEED Madagascar launched project Saha Sekoly, meaning “School Garden” in Malagasy, in 2025.
SEED’s Response
Saha Sekoly Project is based at Tsagnoriha and Mahatalaky Primary Schools in the Anosy region, where agroforestry sites have been established as hands-on learning spaces. Agroforestry - the practice of growing crops and trees together - helps restore soil fertility, improve drought resilience, store carbon, and support biodiversity.
Local smallholder farmers participate in practical training workshops and receive ongoing technical support to adopt sustainable farming techniques that increase and diversify agricultural production. This is particularly important in Madagascar, where approximately 80% of families rely on subsistence farming.
The project sites demonstrate sustainable land management, while producing harvests throughout the year. They also serve as outdoor classrooms for schoolchildren, and the produce contributes vegetables and fruit to school meals, helping to improve students’ nutrition and overall wellbeing.
By combining farmer training, school-based learning, and supplementary food provision, Saha Sekoly supports communities to strengthen food security while restoring the land they depend on.
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.
Madame Caroline, Agroforestry Community Planting Lead
Impact (March 2025 - February 2026)
- 700+ kg of vegetables harvested from the agroforestry site at Tsagnoriha Primary School
- 1,600+ supplementary meals provided to students using vegetables grown on site
- Fruit and moringa trees planted across the sites to support nutrition and long-term crop diversity
- Four practical training workshops delivered to local farmers on composting, soil fertility management, and sustainable agroforestry practices
- Two training sessions delivered to local mothers on nutritious food preparation and hygiene practices
- Four hands-on learning sessions delivered to schoolchildren introducing sustainable agriculture and agroforestry
Next steps
- Establish an agroforestry site at Mahatalaky Primary School
- Maintain regular planting, harvesting, and monitoring activities with project participants, providing vegetables and fruit from the sites to supplement school meals at both schools
- Continue training workshops and educational sessions with local farmers, schoolchildren, and parents across both project-supported communities
Donors
Project Saha Sekoly has been made possible thanks to the generous support of the Admiral Insurance Group plc, Aeonian Foundation, Reid Burns Foundation, Hertfordshire Zoo, and private donors.