South-South exchange visits

South-South exchange visits are a strategic means of peer learning, focused on action and the concrete transformation of practices. They are not limited to observation: they aim to accelerate change by building on proven experiences led by farmers, farmers’ organizations, and technicians facing similar challenges.

Within the framework of the partnership between Fifata and Fert, exchange visits are designed as an operational tool to directly improve practices, strengthen farmers’ organizations, structure value chains, carry out action research, and promote agroecological transition.

Two delegations of farmers and technicians from farmers’ organizations that are members of the Fifata group in Madagascar carried out two exchange visits that illustrate this approach:

In October 2025, a first delegation traveled to Côte d’Ivoire to meet with URMAG, a union of market gardening cooperatives in Gbêkê, to discuss the theme of “Selling Better.”
In November 2025, a second delegation visited Rwanda to compare the practices of Malagasy farmers with those of the efficient and structured Rwandan potato sector, in order to identify concrete levers for development.

FIFATA

Fifata is a national professional agricultural organization in Madagascar. Since its creation in 1989, Fifata has been promoting family farming that is professional and competitive. With support from Fert, Fifata has developed useful services for its members, including access to credit, training, and agricultural advice. These services are provided by specialized professional agricultural organizations. Today, Fifata’s 13 regional member FOs and specialized FOs make up the Fifata Group.

URMAG

Define the objective and anticipate impact from the design stage

An exchange visit is organized when a need is clearly identified and cannot be resolved solely through traditional training or technical documents.

During the first exchange visit, the main challenge for Malagasy farmers was to improve the marketing of agricultural products, particularly those produced using agroecological practices. The choice of Côte d’Ivoire was based on concrete evidence, notably a video posted on the Fert website presenting URMAG’s experience in marketing. This concrete experience and the services developed seemed relevant in providing answers to the questions raised by Madagascan farmers’ organizations.

With regard to the potato sector, Malagasy farmers are entering a decisive phase in the production of in vitro plants and are therefore facing new challenges. Rwanda, a country renowned for the performance of its potato sector, was one of the first areas of research. The strong structure of farmers within the IMBARAGA farmer organization, as well as its technical and organizational innovations, have attracted the interest of Malagasy farmers. The choice of field visits was guided by the desire to cover the entire value chain, from research to marketing, with strong involvement from Rwandan professionals.

Before departure, the missions were prepared around operational questions:

What practices and lessons could be inspired and tested immediately upon return?
What organizational and structural changes would be possible within the Fifata group’s FOs?
How can we collectively capitalize on the lessons learned to develop the sector in Madagascar?
How can we continue the partnership with the FOs we met?

These prior reflections made it possible to set a clear objective for the mission and to avoid a passive visit with no tranformation upon return.

Observe, analyse and protect

During the mission, each field visit was followed by in-depth discussions with the farmers, technicians, and managers encountered. Daily debriefings among delegation members allowed them to compare the practices observed with those in Madagascar, identify success factors, and determine what is appropriate for the Malagasy context. The goal is not only to observe but to immediately transform observations into courses of action.

“The visit allowed me to discover a very well-structured organization within URMAG. The services offered to members are clearly defined, as are the responsibilities of each individual, which facilitates the functioning of the union.

What particularly struck me and was new to me was the existence of a technician dedicated exclusively to marketing. His role is to seek out customers for members and inform them in advance of sales opportunities. Thanks to this system, farmers can focus fully on production, while being confident that they will be able to sell their products at attractive prices.

I also found the work of the marketing representatives at each grassroots farmers’ organization to be very relevant. These representatives pass on information about production as soon as it begins, about three months before harvest. This makes it possible to anticipate product availability and better organize sales. In my opinion, this upstream flow of information is a major asset of the system put in place by URMAG.”

Nicolas Radoniaina ANDRIANARINJAKAFarmer Leader in Commercialization

Capitalize on experience in a concrete way

An exchange visit only makes sense if it quickly leads to change.

Upon returning from the mission to Rwanda, several actions were undertaken in Madagascar:

Initiation of discussions and implementation of technical trials: sand substrate, greenhouse organization, collaboration with the International Potato Center (CIP);
Continuation of demonstration and action research programs on potatoes;
Revision of the strategic orientations of the potato sector within Fifata;
Strengthening of the partnership with the IMBARAGA farmer organization: prospects for cross-training and joint trials, etc.

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“In Rwanda, I saw farmers who dare to invest, who rigorously monitor their fields, and who don’t rely solely on projects or subsidies. That made a big impression on me. Their highly structured approach to producing seedlings showed me that we can also improve our fields if we have the right organization and techniques. I am returning to Madagascar with concrete ideas: to sort my plants better with excellent traceability, to track my expenses, to test new practices to improve yields, and to improve fertilization. This visit has given me confidence in our ability to change too.”

GeorgePresident of the Regional FO Fifatam (member of Fifata)

These experiences illustrate that South-South exchange visits are a catalyst for change, provided they are well prepared in advance, facilitated in a participatory manner during the mission, and followed up with concrete actions upon return.

For the Fifata group organizations, these missions have reinforced the conviction that sustainable improvement in agricultural sectors depends on technical rigor, strong commitment from stakeholders, collective structuring, and a shared vision. It also opens up strong prospects for South-South cooperation, based on mutual learning and the gradual adaptation of innovations. The exchange visit is therefore not an end in itself but a strategic and effective tool for professional, competitive, and sustainable family farming.

These missions were made possible thanks to the support of AFD, the European Union, AgriCord, Afdi, Agriterra, and AVSF.

Define the objective and anticipate impact from the design stage

Observe, analyse and protect

Capitalize on experience in a concrete way

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South-South exchange visits: an operational lever for learning and transformation

Define the objective and anticipate impact from the design stage

Observe, analyse and protect

Capitalize on experience in a concrete way

Actions

Abonnez-vous à notre newsletter

Notre Association

Resources