This website uses cookies to ensure the best experience. Learn more
Menu
We recently joined Symabio, the Malagasy Organic Agriculture Union, which plays an essential role in the development and promotion of organic farming in Madagascar.
With me today is Mr. Hery Ramboatiana, president of Symabio, who will discuss with us about organic farming and its future in Madagascar.
Hery, could you introduce yourself?
Thank you for your invitation. I’m very happy to be here today for this podcast and, of course, I’m very happy to talk about organic farming in Madagascar.
I am Hery Ramboatiana, I’ve been president of the Malagasy Organic Farming Union (SYMABIO) for four years now, and also the manager of a family business which is now 40 years old in essential oils, plant extracts, and spices.
Yes. Symabio, as I said, is a union which brings together around a hundred companies today, organic certified – companies, exporters, producer cooperatives, and the main certifying bodies present in Madagascar.
These companies produce several different lines: vanilla, cocoa, spices, essential oils, plant extracts, but also shrimp farming, which is starting to take up a large part of the organic sector in Madagascar, and organic textiles – Several organic cotton plantations are now being set up in Madagascar.
There are several challenges. The main issues include the cost of certification and the level of know-how among producers and companies. New regulations emerging in Europe and the United States add complexity, and local issues such as locust control and the fight against malaria further complicate matters.
All of these factors are challenges that Symabio must help its members overcome.
The fight against locusts involves aerial pesticide treatments—among others, the use of chlorpyrifos—while the fight against malaria relies on measures such as mosquito nets.
Indeed, there are many challenges for local producers, whether farmers or companies. How does Symabio support these actors in overcoming these challenges?
We have several tools today, working very closely with the Ministry of Agriculture. For example, the “DPV” (Vegetal Plant Protection Department) helps locate treated areas so companies know where not to invest.
We also reinforce knowledge for producers and companies. For producers, we have a fund and a partnership with the Knowledge Centre for Organic Agriculture & Agroecology in Africa (KCOA), through which we have trained 5,000 people on good practices, agroecology, agroforestry, and sustainable agriculture. This training upgrades producers’ know-how, enabling them to produce compost, bio-pesticides, and achieve higher yields while complying with organic farming standards.
For companies, we work with a Malagasy fund for professional training financed by the French Development Agency. We train companies to meet new European regulations and educate key personnel—such as internal controllers—about contamination risks and corrective actions required by certifying bodies. Finally, we support participation in tradeshows; for instance, at Biofach, Madagascar showcases its strategy for organic farming and flagship products along with the know-how of Malagasy companies. This comprehensive support is at the core of Symabio’s mission.
Okay, so it’s really a 360-degree support—internally, externally, and abroad, as seen at Biofach in Nuremberg for this podcast recording.
Absolutely.
Certification is a key element of organic farming because it codifies what organic farming is.
In Madagascar, the process is fairly standard: companies contact certifying bodies to understand the required elements, set up actions to comply with the standards, and then schedule an audit. If the audit goes well, they obtain their certificate.
International buyers are crucial.
For example, with De Monchy, there’s an integration into production that fosters dialogue between producers and importers. This ensures that producers know exactly what importers need, which improves skills and product quality, leading to sustainable trade.
Involvement by international buyers has helped increase both the volume and the area of organic agriculture in Madagascar.
If I may add the example of De Monchy Natural Products:
We have taken a step further by partnering with Sambavanille, our local partner in Madagascar, to create the Macky Association—a group of approximately 2,000 vanilla farmers. We buy green vanilla beans every year, and later the vanilla is certified organic and by Rainforest Alliance©. This initiative allows us to train our farmers on organic cultivation best practices and support them during lean periods between cultivation cycles.
So, how can Symabio guarantee transparency and quality in its organic sector?
First, communication is key. We establish periodic reports to the Agriculture and Trade Ministers regarding the evolution of the organic sector, remain open and listen to our members’ information and grievances, and relay these to the competent authorities.
This also helps guide our activities in relation to our donors.
Social media is another vital channel through which we communicate our activities, ensuring that both importers and local actors are well informed and can act accordingly to improve their markets.
We are slowly coming to the end of this podcast, but I still have a few more questions for you, Hery.
Could you tell me Symabio’s priority objectives for the next 5 years?
Over the next 5 years, our objectives include:
1- Implementing the decree applying the law on organic farming, adopted in Madagascar two years ago. Our goal is to concretely implement this law, collaborating closely with the Agriculture Minister.
2- Turning territories into organic farming areas. This involves dedicating several areas across the country to organic agriculture and the participatory guarantee system to protect members from external and cross-contamination while reinforcing the abilities of producers, local administration, and companies.
3- Setting up market intelligence (monitoring). Currently, there is little monitoring of production in other countries producing similar products. This surveillance will help guide and anticipate Malagasy productions.
I think these are our three main development axes, already in motion, and they represent the priority projects for the next 5 years.
Okay, thank you. So, if you had a message to send to companies and consumers to support organic farming in Madagascar, what would it be?
For companies, it’s all about perseverance. Madagascar is an exceptional country in terms of diversity, offering great opportunities with products like vanilla—of which we are the leading producer—cocoa, and unique spices. I personally encourage importers to keep supporting and buying products from Madagascar as the regulatory environment strengthens, opening significant opportunities.
For consumers, the message is the same: continue to buy organic products from Madagascar, which are exceptional in quality, and support companies that buy directly from the source—an essential practice today.
As we conclude this episode of the podcast, thank you, Hery, for these precious insights.
We, at De Monchy Natural Products, are thrilled to be part of this dynamic effort to support organic farming in Madagascar alongside Symabio. If our audience wants to learn more about Symabio, where can they find information?
Firstly, thank you, Vincent, for the invitation. We are proud to have companies like De Monchy actively involved in Symabio, investing in Madagascar—a key element in the development of organic farming there.
You can visit our website at Symabio.mg, find us on LinkedIn by searching “Symabio,” and visit our Facebook page.
Thanks again, and to our listeners: stay connected for more discussions about sustainable development and responsible procurement. See you next time.
Do you want to join a team of driven professionals in an international environment?
De Monchy Natural Products BV
Coventrystraat 7
3047 AD Rotterdam
The Netherlands
De Monchy Natural Products Inc.
1063 Mosser Road, C-205
Breinigsville, PA 18031
United States of America
Please fill in the form below to receive the Product Info by e-mail.
Please fill in the form below to receive the Product Info by e-mail.
Please fill in the form below to receive the Product Info by e-mail.
Please fill in the form below to receive the Product Info by e-mail.
Please fill in the form below to receive the Product Info by e-mail.
Please fill in the form below to receive the Product Info by e-mail.
Please fill in the form below to receive the Product Info by e-mail.
Please fill in the form below to receive the Product Info by e-mail.
Please fill in the form below to receive the Product Info by e-mail.
Please fill in the form below to receive the Product Info by e-mail.
Please fill in the form below to receive the Product Info by e-mail.
This website uses cookies to ensure the best experience. Learn more