Unlocking Digital Innovation: Stakeholders Collaborate to Develop Digital Agriculture Strategy in Madagascar

From 13 to 20 May, stakeholders from various sectors, including farmers, fishermen, government officials, extension workers, higher education institutions, civil society, and the private sector, gathered in Antananarivo as part of the technical working group and consultative process. Their objective was to gain a comprehensive understanding of the country's context, analyse the existing situation, and assess the specific needs for digital agriculture transformation.

Throughout the mission, the FAO team engaged in discussions with identified stakeholders to validate the findings of the desk research and gather additional insights from the field. They also sought details on key priorities, strategic planning processes, and ongoing digital agriculture initiatives that could be scaled up with the support of FAO and attract external investments.

Nikola Trendov, the digital agriculture lead from the FAO Office of Innovation, played a crucial role in the successful completion of this consultative process and development of strategic priorities. He emphasized the importance of developing a robust data management system and digital advisory services, such as the early-stage initiative "carte du producteur" that aims to become national data-driven agrifood platform. He also highlighted the need to establish clear guidelines and regulations on data privacy and ownership under the digital agriculture strategy to effectively address the challenges.

On the last day of the workshop, the findings were presented to the technical working group. During this session, participants discussed and validated the preliminary findings from the situation analysis, identified six strategic priorities and provided valuable insights for the design of the action plan.

Furthermore, the outcomes of the workshop will serve as the foundation for the development of the preliminary version of the national digital agriculture strategy that will represent a significant milestone towards fostering innovation and driving transformative change in Madagascar's agrifood sector. By collaborating with stakeholders and aligning their needs and strategic objectives, the country can leverage digital technologies to enhance agricultural services, ultimately improving food security for its farmers and the entire nation.