Official Launch of DEFIS–ICRISAT–FOFIFA Partnership Marks New Step in Food Security for Southern Madagascar
Launched in March 2026, this partnership unites science, innovation, and local expertise to strengthen food systems, improve livelihoods, and scale climate-resilient solutions across southern Madagascar.
Madagascar has taken a significant step toward strengthening food security and climate resilience in its southern regions following the official launch of a strategic partnership between the Programme de Développement de Filières Inclusives (DEFIS), the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), and the Centre National de Recherche Appliquée au Développement Rural (FOFIFA).
The collaboration comes at a critical time for the 'Grand South', the nation's most climate-vulnerable and food-insecure areas, where communities continue to face persistent drought and declining soil productivity.
These challenges have placed immense pressure on farming systems and livelihoods, making the need for practical, science-driven solutions more urgent than ever.
Dr. Himanshu Pathak, Director General of ICRISAT, applauded the partnership and underscored its significance, emphasizing the need for collaborative, science-driven approaches to address the nation's climate challenges and improve livelihoods across its vulnerable regions.
“This partnership reflects a shift from isolated interventions to integrated, country-led solutions.
"It builds on ICRISAT’s proud legacy of impact in Africa working alongside partners to leverage frontier science and local knowledge to strengthen food systems that can endure climate stress and deliver lasting impact” said Dr. Pathak.
At the heart of this initiative is a focus on promoting climate-resilient crops such as pearl millet, sorghum, and groundnut.
These crops are well-suited to the region's harsh conditions and offer a pathway to improved food and nutrition security for vulnerable households.
The partnership aims to also strengthen agricultural production systems by expanding access to improved seeds, promoting better farming practices, and building the capacity of farmers and local institutions.
It also places strong emphasis on value addition and market access to ensure that farmers not only produce more but also earn more.
Speaking on the importance of the initiative in Africa, Dr. Rebbie Harawa, Director of the Africa Program at ICRISAT, noted,
“This partnership is about putting farmers at the center of innovation through knoweldge exchange.
"Through strengthening seed systems, improving technologies, and building local capacity, we are creating opportunities for communities to become more resilient and economically empowered" said Dr. Harawa.
Over the next 30 months, the initiative is expected to directly benefit 32,000 farmers, support the cultivation of 5,000 hectares using improved seed, and facilitate the dissemination of 25 improved crop varieties.
Seed production efforts are projected to yield 40 tons of seed, with the potential to produce up to 400 tons of grain.
The program will also support the establishment of community seed banks, strengthen local agribusiness opportunities, and improve access to certified seeds, ensuring that farmers have reliable and sustainable inputs for future seasons.
The launch brought together a wide range of stakeholders, including government institutions, technical services, farmer organizations, and development partners.
A field visit held on 19 March allowed participants to interact directly with farmers, observe demonstration plots, and witness early results from the technologies being introduced.
Martin Muluka
This work aligns with SDGs 2,13 & 17.