Before and After: Abandoned Land Reclaimed

	Before: The rudimentary irrigation system in this valley had broken down, inundating or drying out much of the available surface. The surrounding hillsides had been used for slash-and-burn agriculture, and the basin was clogged with silt and invasive plants. Photo Credit: CARE
	After: With assistance from USAID, communities rehabilitated irrigation systems, reclaimed the basin surface and put in place a local water management committee. Now, rice paddies flourish and communities are planting tree crops. USAID's assistance has reduced watershed erosion, helped conserve the natural environment, increased rice productivity and raised household incomes. Photo Credit: CARE

Rehabilitation of irrigation systems and land reclamation opens up new land for rice production, increasing food security and decreasing slash-and-burn hillside farming of low-yield crops

Madagascar has one of the highest levels of per capita rice consumption in the world. The country also has an abundant amount of low-lying land suitable for rice cultivation. However, on the east coast, poor management practices and lack of access to appropriate technologies have led to the abandonment of large tracts of prime rice paddy. Farmers have resorted to the slash-and-burn rice cultivation on the surrounding hillsides that have severely damaged the environment. Since 2004, a USAID Food for Peace funded project has helped communities reclaim over 1500 hectares of rice paddy through the rehabilitation of over 200 kilometers of primary irrigation canals, enabling communities to return to lowland rice cultivation, helping conserve the natural environment and paving the way for watershed reclamation.