The community of Tsarahafatra is abuzz with excitement as the agricultural college opened its doors
on 6 January 2025 to welcome its very first class of students. This event marks an important milestone in the agricultural development of the Vatovavy and Fitovinany regions, and promises a flourishing future for young future farmers.
The idea of creating an agricultural college for young people in the Vatovavy and Fitovinany regions came about in 2018, at the instigation of the regional farmers’ organisation Fagnimbogna, a member of Fifata. Every year, around ten young people from these regions apply for the training offered by one of the top 5 agricultural colleges of the Fekama federation (a member of the Fifata group), located in Ambalavao, nearly 300 km away.
Since then, the project has gone through several major stages, including preliminary studies and the raising of funds; the provision by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock in 2023 of an 8-hectare plot of land at Tsarahafatra, 20 km west of Mananjary along the river of the same name; the setting up of a Farmers’ Committee in May 2024; the start of work in September 2024 and finally the recruitment of the teaching team.
The first phase of work, completed in January 2025, includes a building with three classrooms, a computer room and library, a boarding school for boys, a toilet block and accommodation for the headmaster. The second phase, scheduled for completion between May and September 2025, will add a dormitory for girls, a refectory, an administrative building and, subject to financing still to be secured, accommodation for the trainers.
The student recruitment process began in November 2024, with the Comité Paysan working hard to secure 69 applications from 4 districts in the two regions. After a series of tests and interviews, 39 young people aged between 15 and 18 were selected, including 16 girls.
Unfortunately, due to the current drought, a number of families have not been able to meet the required contributions (enrolment fee, school fees, rice for the young person’s boarding diet). At the end of January 2025, there were 28 young people aged between 15 and 18, including 6 girls. These young people are demonstrating their desire to contribute to more professional farming to improve income and living conditions.
‘Before, I already had crops and livestock, but it wasn’t effective because I lacked techniques. Since I enrolled at the agricultural college, I find that it’s already beneficial.’
The Tsarahafatra agricultural college is much more than just a school: it is a unique opportunity for social and economic transformation for rural populations.
With training tailored to the needs of tomorrow’s farmers, high-quality teaching staff and strong support from Fagnimbogna and Fekama as well as the other POs in the Fifata group and their close partners, in particular Minae, Fert and Cneap, the Tsarahafatra agricultural college is destined to play a major role in the agricultural development of the Vatovavy and Fitovinany regions.
