The “Digitalization and Innovation in support of Forestry and the Agricultural Market” (DIFMA) project is an FTA support/partnership project for producers, collectors with actors in the private and public sector.
- Number of beneficiaries: 1200 producers
- Intervention areas: Analamanga, Alaotra Mangoro, Atsinanana, Fitovinany regions
- Area to be reforested and monitored by drone: 1000 hectares spread over 4 regions
- Duration: 1 year
- Funder: GIZ
Context
Madagascar is a naturally rich country. Despite the economic potential of the organic essential oils and spices sectors, the benefits for producers remain limited. Difficult access to the market constitutes a major obstacle to their socio-economic development.
One of the causes of this situation is the lack of traceability of organic products from producers, leading to a lack of confidence on the part of market operators.
In addition, the environmental pressure exerted by these sectors poses sustainability problems, particularly due to the common practice of slash-and-burn cultivation in the main areas of intervention in Madagascar, particularly in the eastern part.
It is in this context that the DIFMA project will contribute to improving market access for producers while promoting the environmental sustainability of the organic essential oil and spice sectors through the use of new technologies and in partnership with several service providers.
the project’s objectives
The objectives of this project are:
Objective 1: Develop the producers’ market by setting up a digital product traceability system.
Objective 2: Mitigate the consequences of natural resource degradation by ensuring effective monitoring of community and individual reforestation plots.
Objective 3: Strengthen the capacity of different stakeholders in the sustainable management of forest resources.
The project aims to create economic opportunities for producers, improve confidence in organic products, preserve the environment and strengthen the capacity of stakeholders to sustainably manage forest resources.
Project logic
Objective 1: Develop the market for producers and their groups through the establishment of a digital traceability system.
Including the following activities:
Development of a tracking and tracing application
Collection and digitalization of data on producers and their products
Development of a partnership between beneficiary producers and an agri-food company
Creation of a showcase website for the products resulting from the developed partnership
Training of company technicians on the use of the developed application and data collection techniques
Objective 2: Mitigate the consequences of forest resource degradation through effective monitoring of reforestation plots
Including the following activity:
(Reforestation activities are underway and are not part of this project)
Drone monitoring of community and individual reforestation plots
Objective 3: Strengthen sustainable management of forest resources at the level of intervention communities
Including the following activities:
Capacity building of various stakeholders and development of sustainable forest resource management plans
Community awareness on the theme of sustainable management of forest resources
Target beneficiaries
The target beneficiaries of this support include:
Producers of aromatic plants and organic spices, as well as their groups. The project aims to work with 1,200 producers, at least 30% of whom are women. These producers must have certified organic production plots.
Some product collectors: The producers mentioned above will work closely with collectors who will provide logistical solutions such as storage and transportation of products
The beneficiary partners
Beneficiary partners include:
The private sector (an agri-food company): The project will seek to involve at least one company interested in organic products. The company plays a key role. Its commitment is crucial to ensuring commercial opportunities for producers of aromatic plants and organic spices. The company must demonstrate its ability to absorb products from producers in the regions concerned and to collaborate sustainably with them. It can also help strengthen the technical and financial capacities of producers, by providing them with support in production, processing and marketing. The agri-food business is an essential link in the value chain, thus creating economic opportunities.