Although Madagascar’s economy is agrarian, much of the land is unsuitable for cultivation because of mountainous terrain, extensive lateralization, and inadequate or irregular rainfall. Only about 5 percent of the land area is cultivated at any one time, of which 16 percent is irrigated. In addition to providing livelihoods for two-thirds of the population, agriculture contributes 29 percent of the nation’s GDP. The economy also benefits from trade and a small and uncompetitive industrial sector (USDoS 2011). Most farmers practice small-scale subsistence on small family plots in rural areas. A variety of foodcrops—including rice, cassava, bananas, maize, and sweet potatoes—is grown. Nonetheless, the yields are insufficient to meet Chapter 8 213 domestic demand. For instance, per capita rice production declined from 1.2 tons in 1975 to only 0.9 ton in 2006 (Rapport National d’Investissement Madagascar 2008). Sisal and sugarcane dominate large-scale production. “Slash-and-burn” (shifting) agriculture is a common practice resulting in environmental degradation and forest loss. The technique has been perpetuated by the lack of adequate infrastructure in many rural regions, limiting access to information, agricultural inputs, credit, and markets (Erdmann 2003). This situation makes adaptation to climate change more challenging, because it restricts options for agricultural diversification and keeps farmers reliant on rain and thus more vulnerable to changing seasonal and precipitation patterns.