Farmers from the "Lazan'i Sambirano" cooperative group won gold medals for Africa and the Indian Ocean in a global competition to produce cocoa of the quality required by the international market last year, a cooperative in the Diana region. He was also a local farmer, who won the bronze medal.

The award will improve the livelihoods of cocoa farmers from the "Lazan'i Sambirano" cooperative. This will encourage importers to choose their products, said Aldi Arnaud Toly, president of the cooperative. The Cooperative produces 700 tons of cocoa per year. Only 300 tons are exported directly, but 400 tons are received by collectors.

The Diana region, particularly in Ambanja, produces 95% of the cocoa production of Madagascar, which is arguably the capital of cocoa production in Madagascar. Yields vary from 3,000 to 6,000 tons per year. A tenth of the product, supply local businesses, the rest, 90% are all exported. European countries are the main recipients of Malagasy products.

Cocoa in Madagascar can compete with products from other countries. Our products are of the highest quality, and are always very organic, with no chemicals in their processing, which is why there is a lot of demand abroad, and the price of cocoa in Madagascar is better than in other countries.

As proof, Mrs. Sovenira Vahiny, President of the TMAR Farmers' Cooperative of the "L Sambirano" Cooperative Group, won the gold medal for the quality of Cocoa in Sambirano, the Indian Ocean at the world competition for the production of quality Cocoa. demanded by the market this Cooperative last year. Aly Robert, a farmer from the same cooperative, also won a bronze medal in the competition.

Environmental degradation is reducing cocoa production in Madagascar. These include the devastating effects of climate change. All this is a problem that can be solved, the technicians said, if everyone takes their respective responsibilities and if all forces are mobilized.