Madagascar: IRRIGATED PERIMETERS BOENY – Restoration and maintenance fund soon operational

Rédaction Africa Links 24 with lexpress
Published on 2024-02-29 02:45:00

The two directors of rural engineering (on the right) and agriculture with the governor of Boeny.
The Fund for Rehabilitation and Maintenance of Agricultural Hydro Networks, or FRERHA, will be created and operationalized soon in the Boeny region. This was discussed during the meeting between the director of rural engineering, the director of agriculture for Boeny, and the coordinator of the PADAP project, with the Boeny region led by Governor Mokhtar Andriantomanga, at the Ampisikina administrative block last Tuesday. Defined by Law 2014-042, FRERHA focuses on the maintenance and repair of infrastructures. According to observations, only 45% of the irrigated sector in the Boeny region is fully functional. “The problem is significant because it hinders the rational and sustainable exploitation of irrigated perimeters. The poor water management in the region justified the choice for the fund project. Furthermore, Boeny is one of the rice production hubs and has strategic infrastructures, it is one of the silos of Madagascar,” explained the director of rural engineering Fanomezana Rabearisoa. In addition, the regional rice development office, ORDR, will also be established in the Boeny region, following the creation of the FRERHA fund, which will be under its supervision.

Consultations
Since the State has moved away from the management of agricultural enterprises, no maintenance work has been carried out and farmers have either fought on their own or relied on external funding projects. “We appreciate the creation of FRERHA and ORDR to restore agricultural infrastructures in the region. They can financially support the maintenance of infrastructures of strategic agricultural projects if a partner can help us collect royalties. For effective decentralization, these structures, like ORDR, decided at the central level, should be included in the regional system. The region’s responsibility is to adapt their mission to local reality and the regional development plan (PRD) as well as decentralized technical services (STD),” urged the governor. Consultations will still be carried out before the definitive creation of the fund. Local beneficiaries, including decentralized technical communities, will be consulted. They also contribute financially to the maintenance of strategic agricultural infrastructures.

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