Agroforestry in Madagascar: past, present, and future.

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Ecology
• Social Science

Background:

• Agroforestry systems offer high multifunctionality, providing yields and ecosystem services, particularly beneficial for smallholders in tropical regions.
• Madagascar's history reveals the integration of plantation crops into mixed agroforestry systems since the 19th century.
• Crops like clove, vanilla, coffee, and cocoa are central to Malagasy agroforestry, supporting livelihoods and exports.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the history of agroforestry in Madagascar.
• To review current literature on agroforestry outcomes (ecological and socio-economic).
• To identify factors promoting and hindering agroforest establishment and maintenance, and discuss future potential.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of agroforestry in Madagascar.
• Analysis of historical crop introductions and integration into farming systems.
• Synthesis of research on ecological and socio-economic outcomes.

Main Results:

• Agroforestry in Madagascar involves crops like clove, vanilla, coffee, and cocoa, contributing significantly to exports (27.4%) and supporting over 500,000 farmers.
• Ecological outcomes show benefits over monocultures, while socio-economic research indicates financial gains and community benefits for smallholders.
• Significant research gaps exist in geographic and crop coverage, as well as ecological outcome assessments.

Conclusions:

• Agroforestry in Madagascar presents significant potential for multifunctional land use and improved human wellbeing.
• Overcoming barriers such as land tenure insecurity, financial constraints, and unstable value chains is crucial for scaling up agroforestry.
• Future efforts should focus on research to fill knowledge gaps and policy interventions to support sustainable agroforestry development.