Hope in the coming weeks

Rice farmers in the Highlands are experiencing a difficult period. At the beginning of January, several thousand hectares of rice fields were in a state of severe drought in the Analamanga and Alaotra-Mangoro regions.

The lack of rain prevents farmers from starting rice cultivation, while the sowing period is set for September-October and transplanting operations for November-December, in line with the usual agricultural practices of the peasants. Those who have attempted to sow seeds often complain about young plants drying out.

Farmers are starting to worry. Currently, only the rice fields supplied by the Bevava dam-dike are being transplanted. They represent only 20 % of the region’s fields. This prolonged period of drought could pose a risk to upcoming harvests. Rice fields not supplied by this network, but by natural rain, risk not producing this agricultural season. Transplanting work will not begin this week for the farmers. According to the weekly trend forecast by the Directorate General of Meteorology, no rain is expected in the Central Highlands and the East between January 6 and 12.

However, there is a glimmer of hope. The coming months will likely be wetter than the previous ones. Meteorologists predict that January’s readings will exceed usual seasonal values in the northern parts of Alaotra-Mangoro and Atsinanana, the east of Analanjirofo and Sofia, as well as the regions of Ambatosoa, Diane, and Sava. The experts from the Directorate General of Meteorology warn that these significant readings could lead to floods in these areas.