Beyond its commercial vocation, Guanomad is also a responsible corporate.

PFor Madagascar, we have on a basis to orient our social and environmental concerns: This is the basic principle of sustainable rural development.. This is the basic principle of sustainable rural development.

Since 2009, we have developed four themes for discussion in line with our motto:

- Preach for organic farming
- Participate in food self-sufficiency
- Defend the values that respect environment
- Participate in rural development

1. Preach for Organic Farming

Definition of Organic Farming

Organic Farming or Organic Agriculture is a production system that sustains the health of soils, ecosystems and people. It relies on ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles adapted to local conditions, rather than the use of inputs with adverse effects. Organic agriculture combines tradition, innovation and science to benefit the shared environment and promote fair relationships and a good quality of life for all involved. IFOAM

Organic farming in Madagascar

• According to IFOAM/FIBL, in 2008:

- Madagascar is ranked 7th among the top ten countries with the largest certified organic agricultural land (ha) with its 9456 ha.
- As for the ranking of the top 10 countries with the largest number of organic farms, we are in the 7th place with 5,455 farms.

• An important part of organic production also takes place in the informal sector and without certification. There are organic farmers for whom certification has no benefit: this is true for farmers who practice subsistence agriculture, mainly to ensure food security for their family or their community. There are no official statistics on this type of organic production.

Why go organic ?

• Organic Farming contributes to sustainable food security.. Organic management systems have doubled yields in arid and degraded lands (eg, in Tigray, Ethiopia). A study using an internationally recognized has shown that a conversion to organic farming (50%) would result in sub-Saharan Africa increased food supply and reducing the dependence of food imports.

• Organic Farming can reduce the effects of new problems, such as climate change, through measures like soil carbon sequestration.

• Organic Farming offers the most efficient model to stop the dramatic desertification process that currently takes place in Africa where two-thirds of the continent is desert or drylands, through prevention of erosion and land degradation, and restoration degraded lands.

• Organic Farming allows creating sustainable livelihoods for farm families, by promoting access to new business opportunities and offering better prices for their products. Moreover, better pay for organic products is not only an important incentive for individual producers, but also offers greater opportunities for communities to become more independent and generate new opportunities in education and employment. des conditions de vie durables that currently takes place in Africa where two-thirds of the continent is desert or drylands, through prevention of erosion and land degradation, and restoration degraded lands.

• • Organic Farming improves human health and maximises environmental services by preservation of biodiversity, soil improvement and exclusion of agricultural chemical inputs that infect human beings and ecosystems.

• Organic Farming reduces the costs of external inputs, excluding use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, genetically modified organisms and pharmaceuticals.

To see the intervention of Mr Erick RAJAONARY on this topic, click HERE. .