Christoffel den Biggelaar^1,, Juliana Rasoma², Florien Zafiroa³, Silver Nomenjanahary³

Rapid population growth and a mostly rural population depending on agriculture for their livelihood is putting increasing pressure on Madagascar's unique natural resources. Slash-and-burn (tavy) remains common in Eastern Madagascar, especially for growing rice, the most important food crop in Madagascar. In the face of declining yields due to soil degradation and ever shorter fallow periods, the Madagascar Fauna & Flora Group has been assisting farmers to find agroecological alternatives to increase rural revenues and improve food security and reduce pressure on remaining forests and protected areas. As crop genetic diversity is one key aspect in agroecology, we carried out a rapid survey in late 2019 to determine present varietal diversity in the villages around the Betampona Integral Nature Reserve in the Tamatave II District. We inventoried 81 varieties among the 73 households in the five fokontany surveyed, the majority of which were grown by one household only. The five most widely grown varieties were grown by 34-42% of households, often concentrated in one or two fokontany. A review of historical rice inventories revealed that many presently cultivated varieties were already grown in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Although more recently developed varieties have been adopted, and farmers are testing seeds recovered from purchased rice or emergency food donations, the old local varieties have characteristics (better adaptation to local soil and climate conditions; cultural importance; and culinary qualities) that guarantee their continued cultivation.

agrobiodiversity, rice varieties, Betampona Integral Nature Reserve, Madagascar