Food for Peace

	Food distribution center Photo: USAID/Madagascar

The Challenge

Despite its vast agricultural potential, Madagascar is confronted with serious food security problems at all levels: access, availability and utilization. Limited food access and availability are the result of low agricultural productivity, especially on smaller farms. Further, the lack of such rural infrastructure as road networks, intermediary markets and storage facilities create problems with the distribution of food products. Access to health, water, and sanitation services present considerable obstacles for both rural and urban households. The lack of access to these services leads to water-borne and sanitation-related diseases, which have a direct impact on the nutritional status of the Malagasy and compromise their capacity to utilize food adequately.

Madagascar's vulnerability to food insecurity is chiefly caused by:

• Low income
• Low productivity of agriculture
• Limited access to marketing
• Limited access to key infrastructure
• Chronic malnutrition
• High incidence of diarrheal disease, malaria & respiratory Infections
• Low access to potable water

USAID Response

USAID/Madagascar works across sectors to improve the food security of Madagascar's most vulnerable populations, especially those located in fragile eco-regions. USAID supports integrated programs to fight the interrelated problems of access, availability and utilization.

USAID programs increase food availability by providing technical assistance and training to promote sustainable farming practices, more productive and diversified farming systems, and improved post-harvest management. In addition, food-for-work programs rehabilitate small-scale irrigation and drainage systems as well as soil and water conservation infrastructure to enhance agricultural potential.

Programs promote food access to ensure that individuals have adequate resources to obtain appropriate foods for a nutritious diet. Food access programs include actives such as: increase revenue from commercial sales of agricultural and handicraft products; promote basic marketing information systems, and promote marketing infrastructure such as farm-gate to market roads, footpaths and bridges .

Activities also work to improve food utilization. Programs work to promote a diet providing sufficient energy and essential nutrients, potable water, and adequate sanitation. Programs have activities that work to: improve nutritional practices of families, especially young children; improve household prevention and management of diseases for children; reinforce partner and community capacity to support nutrition, and preventative health care; and improve hygiene and sanitation of households and community (point-of-use water treatment solution, safe water storage containers, latrine platforms and hand pumps).