Madagascar, January 2021
Launching Workshop for NRDS revision in Madagascar
The revision of the NRDS in Madagascar is necessary for better alignment and coherence with state policies such as the Madagascar Emergence Plan (MEP) and the General State Policy (GSP). In addition, the baseline data used to formulate the NRDS 2 is outdated and requires significant updating.
The official launch of the NRDS revision process was initiated by the Government of Madagascar, through the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (MAEP), with the involvement of the Presidency. Recently, rice self-sufficiency by 2023 has been included as one of the major objectives under the Madagascar Emergence Plan (MEP), through the development of 100,000 ha of irrigated rice fields. The Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, represented by the Director General of Agriculture, who is the NRDS focal point, insisted on a process that would be thoughtful and avoid building NRDS 3 on old data, which had been criticized during the implementation of the NRDS-2.
Considering the time and resources required, the purpose of this official launch was to: (i) sensitize all stakeholders to participate in the process, through a wider coverage of the event by a dozen print and audiovisual media houses; (ii) mobilize the contributions from technical and financial development partners in Madagascar; and (iii) prepare consultations for a change in the conduct of rice development in the face of newly emerging challenges.
Workshop description. Director for DAPV presented the purpose and objectives of the workshop and gave a reminder of the broader outlines of the NRDS 2. She also provided an update on the status of the NRDS, starting with the annual evolution of rice production since 2017, noting in particular the achievements in relation to the implementation of the sub-strategy on rice mechanization, rice seeds and the evolution of developed/rehabilitated areas over the period from 2017 to 2020.
This was followed by a Q&A session on the above presentations. Participants were then divided into 3 sub-working groups to: (i) analyze the main elements of the strategy, (ii) propose improvements, and (iii) identify actions that need to be carried out in the short term. One of the elements on which the participants had to discuss was on the strategic axes that the core group of the Task Force proposed to retain for the NRDS 3.
In general, the subgroups retained the 5 strategic axes that represent the important bases for the NRDS Task Force’s writing work, but added emphasis on: (i) seed production, which could be specifically incorporated under the “Agricultural Intensification” axis, and (ii) landscape preservation by taking into account the environmental and sustainable development aspects, which would constitute a new and sixth strategic axis. At the tactical level, the need to “territorialize the strategy” will be taken into account.
Next steps. The Director General of Agriculture, who is the NRDS Focal Point for Madagascar, highlighted the following 4 main actions as the next steps, after the official launch of the review process that should lead to the formulation of NRDS 3:
Review and adjustment of the Task Force members, as have retired or changed positions, taking into account fresh representations from the MEDD and MICA departments, the National Chamber of Agriculture and NGOs working in the rice sector. The TF members will be confirmed or newly appointed by the present entities of the NRDS TF of Madagascar;
Establishment of a projected schedule for the revision of the NRDS;
Carrying out studies, surveys and documentation that are necessary for updating data and the needs of the different sub-sectors of the rice sector; and
In-depth analysis and mapping by sub-sectors of the rice value chain: Current status, Problems, Causes, Constraints and Issues.
Through these analyses the taskforce will decide whether or not to retain the strategic axes proposed by the working groups. It was also communicated that the constitution of an adjusted core group will be formed from within the adjusted Task Force. This core group, whose members will have to be based in the capital city, will meet and work every week according to the NRDS revision schedule.
(photo: Officials at the launching ceremony of the NRDS review)
