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Madagascar has launched digital tools to help farmers improve productivity and climate resilience
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New services include a farmer registry, price and weather alerts, and digital farming advice
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The initiative supports the country’s broader strategy to modernize agriculture through digital technology
Agriculture accounts for nearly 30% of Madagascar’s economy but continues to struggle with low productivity and vulnerability to climate change. The government aims to address those challenges by accelerating the sector’s digital transformation.
Digital Agriculture Roadmap Unveiled
Madagascar has advanced the digital transformation of its agricultural sector by launching a digital public infrastructure and three initial services for farmers. The initiative was unveiled on Tuesday, June 30, during a workshop in Antananarivo on the development of the national roadmap for digital agriculture. The event was organized by the ministries of Agriculture, Livestock and Digital Development, with support from the World Bank through the KWPF mechanism.
The initiative is built around a digital public infrastructure for agriculture designed to ensure interoperability and data sovereignty across agricultural, livestock and fisheries data. Authorities also introduced three initial digital services. The first is a national farmer registry that will serve as a unified database of agricultural producers. The second combines an agricultural price monitoring system with a weather alert service that provides real-time updates. The third is a digital agricultural advisory platform that will deliver recommendations tailored to farmers’ crops, locations and local climate conditions.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the tools are intended to improve farmers’ access to market information, support crop management decisions and strengthen their ability to anticipate climate-related risks. Three companies have been selected, under the supervision of technical adviser NextA, to develop the solutions. Similar projects are also underway in the livestock sector, including digital beehive monitoring and a digital animal health monitoring system for cattle.
Agriculture Remains Central to the Economy
The initiative comes as agriculture remains a cornerstone of Madagascar’s economy. According to the World Bank, the sector accounts for nearly 30% of gross domestic product, about 40% of export earnings and provides livelihoods for nearly 70% of the country’s workforce. However, low productivity, limited access to agricultural services and high exposure to climate shocks continue to constrain its development. For international institutions, digital technologies have become a key tool for improving yields, expanding market access and strengthening food security.
The launch of the new services is also part of a broader strategy to digitize the agricultural sector. Madagascar has been working for several years, with support from partners including the World Bank and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, to develop a national roadmap for digital agriculture. The roadmap aims to build data infrastructure, strengthen the sector’s digital governance and support the large-scale deployment of digital services for farmers.
Samira Njoya
