Rice Production in Madagascar: Challenges to Self-Sufficiency
Selected Issues Papers, April 1, 2025
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- Rice Production in Madagascar: Challenges to Self-Sufficiency
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Bibliographic details
- Authors: Vaishali Ashtakala, Joanne Tan, Timila Dhakhwa, Yipei Zhang
- Published: April 1, 2025
- Series: Selected Issues Papers
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9798229005906.018
Government targets and timeline
- Malagasy government aims for self-sufficiency in rice production by 2027.
- Targets: 6 million tons in 2024 and 11 million tons by 2030.
Main challenges identified
- Competition from cheaper imports.
- Low productivity of domestic rice cultivation.
- Climate change and natural disasters affecting production.
- Potential adverse price effects if policies are not well-targeted.
Data and analytical approach
- Analysis utilizes historical data on tariffs and VAT to assess the impact of import competition on local markets.
- The paper assesses potential rice output under various scenarios (detailed scenario assumptions and quantitative outcomes are in the full paper).
Key findings
- Recent production increases have occurred but are insufficient to meet stated self-sufficiency goals on current trends.
- There is significant room for improvement in rice yields.
- Import competition has measurable impacts on local market conditions, mediated by historical tariff and VAT regimes.
- Sustainable productivity enhancements are central to increasing local production without harming price stability.
Policy implications and recommendations
- Emphasize targeted supply-side policies to bolster local production.
- Prioritize strategies that enhance productivity sustainably (for example, improvements in cultivation practices, seed technology, and resilience to climate shocks).
- Design trade and tax (tariff/VAT) measures mindful of their effects on local farmers and retail prices to avoid negative impacts on consumers or producers.
Source: Rice Production in Madagascar: Challenges to Self-Sufficiency, Selected Issues Papers (2025).
Content in this bundle
- Rice Production in Madagascar – Challenges to Self-Sufficiency; Republic of Madagascar