Madagascar is mainly a rural country, with 66% of the population being rural. Agriculture generates 26% of the Gross Domestic Product of the country. The irrigated sector, which represents about 57% of the Malagasy rural economy, is dominated by irrigated rice. The potential irrigable by gravity system represents an area of ​​about 1.5 million hectares, of which 72% is equipped with irrigation and drainage infrastructure.

Farms are mainly of a family-type. The average agricultural farm size is small, with a large percentage of farmers operating in a cultivated area of less than 25 acres. Agriculture is primarily characterized by subsistence nature including traditional and rudimentary crop management. The major crop in lowlands is rice cultivation, followed far behind by the off-season crops (beans, potatoes, etc.).

Madagascar is affected by rural poverty, as 77% of the Malagasy population could be classed as rural poor, due to the combination of stagnation or even the decline of agricultural productivity with a very significant population growth.

The main constraints to agricultural development in Madagascar are linked primarily to farmers’ poverty which prevents them from investing in equipment and from opting for more productive farming techniques. The very low education level of most household heads is also another potential problem when attempting to disseminate productive techniques.