Promoting sustainable livelihoods with the active contribution of the local community is producing positive results in Ambatofinandrahana.
Ambatofinandrahana, located in West of Malagasy High plateau, home the largest tapia forest in Madagascar and, since tapia (Uapaca bojeri) is an endemic species, in the world. It covers almost 83% of Ambatofinandrahana’s forest area.
The rate of deforestation has been increasing rapidly over the past decade. Much of this forest loss and degradation is due to forest fires in order to expand farming, due to illegal logging and charcoal production for cooking and energy requirements. In this context, forest protection and sustainable income generating activities must go hand-in-hand.
Ny Tanintsika created a self-help group at the community level to help them to have access to microcredit in order to improve their business. Now, 25 groups have been created and almost 600 households benefited from this self-help group system.
Razafimamonjy is one of the beneficiaries. He lives in Mahavanona, a neighbourhood of Ambatofinandrahana, and is member of his Community Forest Management group. He is also a tree nursery agent in Mahavanona, responsible for taking care of the tapia saplings to ensure tapia forest restoration.
Before, Razafimamonjy was a subsistence farmer and reared livestock for a living. However, when he learnt about the self-help savings and loans group, he was the first to be convinced and to accept to be a member because he knew the opportunity that this service presented.
He said “At the beginning, I borrowed 30,000 Ariary to buy a female fish. I have rice fields and I wanted to do fish farming. Six months after, I had around 10,000 fries and I sold each fry for 500 Ariary”- “I get a big profit because this business is not very difficult and it does not need a big investment”.
Now, he has become a fry supplier around Mahavanonana and Ambatofinandrahana. He even gives a discount to his friends in the Community Tapia Forest Management group, especially those who participate in community work such as setting up fire barriers or filling pots for the tree nursery.
Ravao also knows how to make the most of opportunities from this self-help group. Mother to two children, and member of the same group as Razafimamonjy in Mahavanona, Ravao had to do daily work to support her family.
She explained “After the awareness raising concerning this self-help group I immediately signed up to be a member. I believed that this was an opportunity and I could change my life. I borrowed Ariary 50,000 to open my little grocery in my village and, after 3 months, I can pay back my loan.”
Now, Ravao has seen an improvement in her living conditions and has no difficulties in providing for her family and educating her children. Recently, she built her own house from her business’ profit and she is very proud. She even has installed satellite TV (Canal Plus) and can follow national and international news.
Building new and better business is the step to independence and strengthening resilience to climate change and the threats to the forest.
A Big Thank to Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund and Fondation Tany Meva for their support.
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