Despite being one of the world’s lowest emitters of carbon
dioxide, Madagascar, is numbered amongst the
‘Vulnerable Twenty’; a group of nations that will see their future development severely
impacted by climate change. Already this year, we have seen the south of the
Island afflicted by such extreme drought that 850,000 people were taken to the
brink of famine. Further north, in and around the capital, Tana, drought caused
severe power cuts (no water to drive the hydroelectricity!) and crop failure.
Just as the rains returned and people began planting, cyclone Enawo hit the
island, leaving flooding and devastation in its wake.
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| Southern Malagasy boy eating cactus plant (Nicholas Kristoff/ NYT 2017) |
Your
generous response to our appeal for those at risk of famine could not have been
more timely! Funds were rapidly distributed to our partners enabling them to
meet the immediate nutritional needs of four communities and start them on the
road to recovery:
Famine
Prevention in Beloha Androy:
In
the South, our partner SAF has been working with all 150 households in the
drought stricken community of Beloha Androy. To meet immediate nutritional requirements we delivered 19
tonnes of rice, 4 tonnes of beans and 1500 litres of vegetable oil to starving local
families.
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| SAF truck arriving at Beloha Androy with rice supplies |
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| Sacks of rice stored in local church awaiting distribution |
Supplies
were distributed through a system of food for work. This enabled local
households to recover from acute hunger whilst improving key community
facilities. Tasks were identified and prioritised by the community to ensure
that they responded to local needs. Vital works undertaken included: planting trees and protective hedges, cleaning and restoring the community water tanks and building new class rooms.
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| Families collecting their food rations |
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| Community members forming working parties
1.8 tonnes of
improved maize and cowpea seeds were also distributed to
households in conjunction with training on improved agricultural techniques for
a drought prone environment. The seeds were selected due to their: drought
resistance, local popularity (and therefore acceptance); nutritional value and potential
to produce 2 crops in one year.
Community
members have expressed their gratitude for this emergency assistance in their
time of acute need. They are now able to face daily life and plan for the
future. Unfortunately, insufficient rain has hindered the planting of new
seeds. Farmers are hoping to be able to plant in November if the rains come.
Responding to drought and cyclone in Analamanga and
Amoron'i Mania:
On the rural outskirts of Tana our partner WTDM helped 250
households in 3 villages where farmers had lost their crops to drought and then
to cyclone Enawo. As well as helping farmers to replant their crops, we also
helped the communities to rebuild cyclone-damaged homes, classrooms, toilets
and water points.
 
The
distribution of new tools and improved seeds, adapted to better withstand
drought and flooding, is helping families to replant their lost crops and look
to the future with greater optimism.
Rehabilitating water points and providing watering cans is allowing
farmers, like Aina, to keep their crops irrigated when rain is scarce.
Providing
families with small livestock or poultry is helping farmers like Richard to
diversify their farming practises. Agricultural
diversification is a great way to improve resilience and increase income.
Richard now breeds ducks alongside his arable agriculture so that he can
provide his family with eggs and meat as well as generating additional income.
Planting a range of improved adapted seeds cuts the risk of
losing all crops to a climatic disaster. By planting improved rice with a
variety vegetable crops Armand is spreading his risks and increasing his family’s
resilience.
Despite
the damage done by cyclone Enawo, Hanitra is happy to see her new crops are
growing well thanks to the improved seeds and tools provided by WTDM.
Next step: adapting to climate
change:
Thanks to your generous
response, our disaster appeal has prevented crippling hunger and started four
communities on the road to recovery. However, there is more work to do. According
to the World Bank, Madagascar is likely to be hit by ever-stronger cyclones
that possess double the intensity of today’s storms. The southern region of
Madagascar, which already suffers periodically from drought, is likely to
receive even less rain.
It is no longer enough simply to
respond to disasters as they happen; we need to act now to help the people of
Madagascar build their resilience to face future climatic extremes. MfM has always invested in
people over time. Next, we want to help farmers to further adapt their livelihoods
so they can survive the threats of climate change.
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