Madagascar: Support to the updating of the National Aquaculture Development Strategy (Study 1) and Elaboration of 3 Sector Development Plans (algaculture, holothuriculture and crab farming - Study 2)

Project Background

Since 2005, the aquaculture sector in Madagascar has continued to grow, with diversification being particularly pronounced over the last decade. In 2005, a first development strategy was prepared to guide the sector. This version was revised by FAO in 2010. Given the changes in the sector since 2010, in particular the emergence of new products such as crab, seaweed and cucumber, but also the intensification of inland fish farming (eel, sturgeon and carp/tilapia), the 2010 strategy had to be revised.

Objectives

The objective was to review and update the National Strategy for the Development of Aquaculture in Madagascar (" SNDAM ") and to prepare the development plans for the three sectors (algaculture, holothuriculture and crab farming), which required three regional consultation workshops and a validation workshop at national level. The national workshop validated the SNDAM and the development plans for the three sectors.

The workshops were the subject of specific preliminary consultations with the technical services responsible for aquaculture at the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (" MAEP "). These specific consultations, as well as the collection of field data, were crucial for the further development and orientation of these two studies. Prior to the start of all consultations, an initial consultation (kick-off meeting) was held at central level by the COFAD team, at regional level on the "stocktaking, assessment and capitalisation of achievements (SNDAM and the three production chains)" and on the "stakeholders' agreement on the SNDAM and PND3".

The methodology therefore consisted of several levels of consultation: 

• Internal consultation at the start-up meeting with MAEP, DDA, SWIOFish2 with proposal and validation of the initial report
• Preliminary consultation (15 regions including the highlands) including data collection
• Regional consultations via inter-regional workshops (3 workshops)
• An internal intermediate consultation with DDA and other DTs concerned of MAEP (intermediate report and debriefing meeting of inter-regional workshops)
• A final consultation during the national validation workshop in Tana

Two types of workshops were held and supported by COFAD: 

• Inter-regional workshops, 3 workshops in Sambava, Antsirabe and Mahajanga
• National validation workshop in Antananarivo (for SNDAM and for the three production chains)

This approach integrated different levels of consultation and allowed for good coverage of the regions, where the aquaculture sector was most dynamic, and covered the widest range of stakeholders in the sector. 

Activities and/or Results

• Phase 1 - Preparation: Analysis of documents; Drafting of initial report; Internal kick-off meeting
• Phase 2 - Field mission: Data collection for the assessment of the current situation regarding SNDAM and the Sector Development Plans; concertations préliminaires; ateliers inter régionaux; Réunion de debriefing interne
• Phase 3 - Intermediate report: Editing and presentation of the intermediate report; Intermediate meeting for the validation of the report and discussion of the organisation of the validation workshop
• Phase 4 - Validation workshop: Preparation and realisation of the national validation workshop
• Phase 5 - Final report and updating of the three sector development plans and of the SNDAM: Drafting and submission of the final report; Updating the SNDAM in French and Malgache