In Madagascar, Community Savings Groups contribute strongly to the nutrition resilience of families
Diversification of income sources improves the nutritional health of families through better access to different types of food
“Every day we eat rice with vegetables that we harvest from our fields,” says Jacquise Tombondrasoa – a mother living in the village of Ambalatenina, in Vavatenina, in eastern Madagascar. The description of her diet is a good example of the daily life of local families, two years after the Hafa Velotegna project aimed at “the setting-up of Community Savings Groups (GEC) integrated into Income Generating Activities (AGR) for diversification and nutritional improvement”. Her family’s diet has undergone a remarkable transformation.
The Community Savings Groups (GEC): a pillar of food and economic security
The creation of the Community Savings Groups (CGE) is carried out by the Madagascar Rural Development Support Organization – executive partner of UNICEF for the deployment of the project. Jacquise Tombondrasoa says it is not only a source of credit to increase agricultural production, but also a platform for learning and knowledge sharing. Thanks to a loan from this group, she could invest in agricultural tools and inputs needed to diversify and increase production. Moreover, she benefited from various training courses, notably on the valorisation of local food products, enriched by culinary demonstrations organized by the project.
“Now my family is getting enough to eat even during the lean season between November and February,” she proudly says with a smile.
The Zanatany rice farming system is one of the training courses that Jacquise has received. This innovative technique has increased the quantity of rice harvested, while promoting more sustainable land management. In parallel, the family has developed productive vegetable gardens where they grow a variety of vegetables such as cabbage, carrot, leafy vegetables ... This food diversification has yielded significant benefits: part of the harvest is consumed by the family, which improves their daily nutrition, while the surplus is sold on the local market. The additional revenues generated by these sales have opened up new opportunities for them to buy locally unavailable products such as meat, potatoes and even clothing, thus contributing to a better quality of life.
Sharing good practices
Jacquise Tombondrasoa willingly shares her positive experiences with her neighbours and encourages them to join the GEC.
“I encourage my neighbours to participate in the next cycle because there are many benefits: exchanges of ideas and practices with other farmers, solid savings, and most importantly, the possibility of borrowing money to explore new sources of income. Joining the CEG means not only providing better nutrition for our families, but also strengthening our resilience to nutritional and economic challenges.”
This invitation to join the GEC reflects a collective vision for a better future, where community-based innovation and mutual support play a central role in enhancing food security and overall community well-being.
