From 5 to 9 June 2018, a delegation composed of representatives from Fert’s headquarters, the Fert team in Madagascar and representatives of the Fifata Group, visited the Alaotra Mangoro region where Fifata’s regional member OP, Vifam, celebrated its 10th anniversary.

During field visits, the delegation was able to appreciate Vifam’s achievements and its dynamism in serving its members. Specialized in supporting the potato, local chicken and onion sectors, Vifam offers various services to its members:

  • grouped supply of inputs,
  • multiplication and supply of potato seeds,
  • information on market prices,
  • training and dissemination of agro-ecological practices,
  • skills building and financial “boost” for young members who have not been able to take initial training at the agricultural college.

The delegation also took advantage of this mission to familiarize itself with this region, in which Fert is currently accompanying the establishment of a Regional Development Fund, and attend the defense of some students from the 1st class completing their 3-year schooling at Fekama Agricultural College opened in 2015.

This week rich in discoveries and exchanges ended in beauty with the double celebration of Vifam’s 10th anniversary and the release of the 1st “Santatra” class of the Fekama agricultural college, on the new site of the college under construction. On this occasion, participants were able to discover the diversity of the productions resulting from the educational agricultural exploitation of the college via a dedicated stand.

After the presentation of the graduation certificates and a convivial meal, a round table discussion was held on “the role of POs and other actors in the territory in the development of family farming“. Representatives of the regional authorities in charge of agriculture, the President of Vifam, one of its members, as well as a young person completing his training at the college took part in this debate. These rich exchanges confirmed the interest for farmers to organize themselves in order to access services that meet their needs.