How we have approached Agro Forestry 

We have also embarked on a programme to establish tree nurseries and agroecology fields. Our focus extends beyond agricultural practices; we are actively supporting farmers in planning their crops to supply school canteens. 

In our commitment to sustainability, we are spearheading an educational campaign on renewable energy, with a particular emphasis on solar energy. Our goal is to instill awareness and promote the adoption of eco-friendly practices within the communities we serve.

There are massive challenges posed by distance, accessibility, and transportation means, so we are increasing the number of field agents, often equipped with bikes to navigate the terrain efficiently.

Our collaboration with the School Feeding Programme (SFP) team, especially the School Feeding Officers (SFO), has been strengthened. We are working towards mainstreaming the environmental component of our initiatives into the core of the SFP. This includes reinforcing the wording used in the standard school convention signed at the beginning of each academic year, outlining the schools' obligations to engage in reforestation and boost local production in exchange for SFP support.

Furthermore, we are actively integrating agroecology results into the annual evaluation review at the end of the school year. This involves holding meetings in each municipality with the SFP, emphasizing the importance of environmental initiatives in schools.

Our commitment to community engagement extends to the strengthening of parents' organizations. Just as parent volunteers take turns cooking meals, we encourage the establishment of a similar organization for those involved in tree nursery management.

We are actively promoting recycling initiatives, urging the use of waste plastic bags, wrappings, and bottles as pots for saplings. This not only promotes self-sufficiency but also reduces dependence on specially-purchased pots. Waste management, including composting organic matter from the canteen kitchen, is actively encouraged.

To enhance the sustainability of our efforts, we promote the preservation of seeds extracted from vegetables prepared for the school canteen, encouraging their planting in the school garden.

Our scope goes beyond schools; we are producing trees not only for educational institutions but also for pupils, parents, and teachers. Schools situated near forests specialize in endemic-species sapling production, fostering collaboration by sharing with other schools.

In recognition of the challenges posed by land tenure issues in many schools, we collaborate with district education authorities and local authorities to find solutions. This involves adjusting objectives based on constraints related to school land, such as adopting urban agriculture practices.

In a strategic partnership with Omni Verdi, we explore innovative techniques, including the creation of seed balls, low-maintenance irrigation, and the development of energy-efficient stoves using locally grown, fast-growing biomass rather than traditional firewood. Through these multifaceted initiatives, we are not only nurturing a culture of environmental responsibility but also actively contributing to the sustainable development of the communities we serve.

Raharilalao Flavienne Hortense, is one of our agroforestry and environment field agents. She has worked with Feedback Madagascar since 2008.

“Our tree nurseries are so important because we can give food to the community and protect the environment at the same time.”

She explains that in a tree nursery, there are different kinds of saplings such as fruit, coffee and  indigenous saplings  so that we can share when the right time to plant and train the community about how to plant so they can produce as much as possible and  be a model for others. “It is really beneficial for them because these trees protect their soil against erosion, they can eat the crops and sell the rest for an additional income.” 

She further explains “Then we go together in the forest for the reforestation and plant the indigenous saplings in order to fill all the gaps inside the forest. We are doing this work because there is so much pressure on the forest which is destroying it. The forest is one of the main elements that is working hard to protect the environment and fight against climate change. One of the big challenges is forest restoration. We need to get the communities to understand that.”

Hortense has seen that this manner of working is key with schools as fruit saplings and coffee saplings are shared with parents and teachers and  together they plant  indigenous saplings in the school reforestation field.  

“During this long time working with Feedback Madagascar, we have already planted many trees and what I have noticed after all my monitoring is that around 85% of all the trees planted survive,  that’s the success of tree nurseries and planting and nurturing trees.”