Cooperative farmers Vary Manitra Diégo II or KOVAMADI-II, in Anivorano Auratha Antsiranana-II, are working and trying to produce fragrant rice. Productivity is booming thanks to the training courses organised for them by the SOA Network.

The KOVAMADI-II cooperative can produce up to 200 tonnes of fragrant rice this year, according to its president, Mr Tombozara Patrice. There are now 300 members and their challenge is to produce 400 tonnes in the next production year.

The yield rate is still low. It is around 3 tonnes per hectare, but can be improved to 4 or 5 tonnes per hectare, according to Mr Tombozara Patrice. People like fragrant rice, but they are still looking for other markets to supply them with the product.