SOCIAL THEME 2010 : REFORESTATION

« Reforestation safeguards the future of our children. " This was the tagline chosen by Guanomad for the reforestation campaign.

Why reforest ?

Nowadays, deforestation reaches a very disturbing proportion . Every year, 300,000 hectares forest disappear and burn.

With acts of arson, slash and burn , deforestation for charcoal production and disproportionate logging remain the main causes of forest decline which increases year by year.

Various assessments of risks to health are unanimous: air pollution is responsible for many diseases that particularly affect women and children.

Furthermore, this deforestation lets a sequential environmental importance: global warming due to of important issue of greenhouse gas emissions, erosion, lack of access to potable water. A more alarming fact as the Malagasy forests harbor almost all endemic species of the island.

Click here for our education brochure on reforestation in french.

Achievements of Guanomad

New partners, new tandem were formed in 2010 and were strengthened in 2011. Several ministries (Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Population, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Youth ...), Regions, national projects (PSDR ...) and students, service clubs, have joined Guanomad for reforestation campaign in 2010.
About 10 tons of fertilizers were distributed for free, with training, technical assistance and monitoring.

SOCIAL THEME 2011 : THE KERE or FAMINE IN THE SOUTH

For many years, the South of Madagascar has been hit by a acute famine called kere. The "kere" has now become the annual haunting the people of the southern part of the country.
Currently, 60 communes are seriously affected by food insecurity and that touches 1.45 million women, men and children, about 7% of the total population. The lack of rain is the main factor causing a severe drought from which sustainable farming in this region is wholly absent.
11 communes are particularly hit by the acute food failure which are among others Sakamasay, Balafika Haut, Ankilizato, Ankiliabo and Marolinta and, with a total of 108 131 inhabitants. 42 communes where people live 612 825 are barely surviving.

Now, the food requirements for populations hit by kere rise to 750 tons daily foods (maize, rice, sorghum ...). Although international organizations, embassies, NGOs .... have committed and continue to engage assistance programs for these populations by sharing free food to fill this gap, this plague is difficult to eradicate.
Therefore, this form of assistance sometimes encounters the apprehension of the local population about their dignity.

Sustainable issues

We should offer sustainable solutions to the local population.
Since December 2010, the rain strongly present in this region of island. Rainfall, a determining factor of agricultural development, is very well, and it would even be greater than normal. This is the best time to grow and fight this plague on the South for years.
Plowing operations about many hundreds of hectares have already been initiated as well as the distribution of seeds. However, these one-offs must be made on a large level because it takes advantage for weather to boost agriculture by urgent and punchy measures. Nowadays, the area of farmland in the South is estimated at 10,000 ha.

Some rates :

- For a cropland to 10,000 ha, available in the South, with an average yield to 2 tons of paddy rice per hectare (low yield in the south), production is estimated at 14 000 tons white rice, equivalent to consumption annual rice consumption for 100,000 people;
- lthe average amount of imported rice being 175 000 tons / year (average of the last 5 years), producing 14 000 tonnes rice would thus account for 8% of the volume imported rice.

The aim of this Emergency Plan would not only boost agriculture, but also ensure the availability of sufficient stocks, and affordability of food to populations hit by famine and sell eventually the excess of production on the local market or even regionally.

« Finally SOUTH know the real Economic Development. »

GUANOMAD WORKS FOR HEALTH

Agrotherapy and hortitherapy

First of all places for taking care of patients, hospitals are also places for recovery for some and a job site for others Guanomad therefore proposes to patients and staff to experiment with agrotherapy and horticultural therapy. The agrotherapy is a treatment that involves providing a better life for patients who, according to this philosophy, recover better in the presence of plants. The medical staff also benefits because they suffer less stress and become productive in a good green space. As for horticultural therapy, it involves the use of plants and gardening activities in order to improve the physical and psychical condition.

Guanomad’s achievements

Guanomad also contributes to improving of patient's paths through the installation of several signposts, and contributes to hospital hygiene, by implementation of garbage bins.

Furthermore, gestures as a sign of solidarity were made by Erick Rajaonary himself, General Administrator of Guanomad: donation of clothing and accessories.
Through these actions, Guanomad wants to make life more pleasant for patients, work less stressful for staff, and family’s worries less heavy.

Agreements signed

DPartnership agreements were signed between the Company Guanomad and the following Hospitals:
- Hospital Befelatanana (Antananarivo)
- Hospital Mother - Child of Ambohimiandra
- Joseph Hospital Ravoahangy Andrianavalona (Antananarivo)
- Hospital Manakara (Region Vatovavy Fitovinany)

GUANOMAD WORKS FOR FOOD SECURITY

GUANOMAD SUPPORTS WOMEN, YOUNG AND CHILDREN