SYMABIO reaffirms its collaboration with GIZ-PrAda.

The Malagasy Union of Organic Agriculture (SYMABIO) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) strengthen their collaboration through the Agricultural Value Chains Adaptation Project to Climate Change (PrAda).

Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with GIZ

On December 15, 2023, in Ivandry, SYMABIO and GIZ signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) through PrAda. Dr. Hermann Van Boemmel, the principal project leader of PrAda, stated that GIZ aims to strengthen this collaboration by supporting SYMABIO for an additional three years. This partnership includes local funding to promote global organic agriculture, as well as the economic and structural development of the union. Priority sectors encompass the consolidation of vanilla, pepper, cloves, cinnamon, ginger, pink peppercorn, and honey.

In addition, Dr. Van Boemmel highlights PrAda’s focus on its three main intervention areas, namely Atsimo Atsinanana, Androy, and Anosy. According to the expert, the global organic market still presents opportunities, although the purchasing power of Europeans has decreased after the Russo-Ukrainian war. Nevertheless, international regulations are becoming stricter. The absence of reliable certification poses a hurdle for producers seeking entry into the export market.

Landscape of the Malagasy Organic Agriculture Sector

Globally, the organic market amounts to approximately 250 billion USD. Growing organic exports in Madagascar is positioning itself as a future global leader in the field, exceeding 250 million USD. The island holds a strategic position in the global organic scene and presents considerable development opportunities due to the diversity of its products. According to the union, the sector accounts for 10 % of the total Malagasy agricultural exports estimated at 1.2 billion USD in 2020.

As per SYMABIO, this sector comprises approximately 350 operators, 70,000 producers, and generates 7,000 jobs across 280 sites. Concerning the agriculture sector, nearly 114,000 ha were certified organic in 2021, with 20,000 ha dedicated to natural beekeeping. Certified « organic » operators, in general, and SYMABIO members, specifically, primarily consist of small exporting businesses that still need to bolster their capacities.

« Despite a production quality capable of competing with expected standards, commercial expansion in terms of quantity and compliance with European and Pan-African standards remains challenging » stated Marinah Rakotoniaina, director of Support for Producer Organizations and Agribusiness at the Ministry of Agriculture. The objective is to meet high standards and required criteria to access international markets.