On May 25, 2025, Madagascar officially inked a landmark $90 million agreement with Israeli agritech
company LR Group Ltd, signaling a major step toward modernizing the country’s agricultural sector.
The deal, signed in Tel Aviv by Madagascar’s Secretary of State for the Presidency in charge of
food sovereignty, aims to develop a sprawling smart farming hub across 10,000 hectares spanning
four key regions: Analamanga, Alaotra-Mangoro, Bongolava, and Vakinankaratra.
This ambitious project will primarily cultivate staple crops-rice, maize, and soybeans-employing
cutting-edge agricultural technologies designed to enhance productivity, sustainability, and climate
resilience. Notable innovations include solar-powered irrigation, high-yield hybrid seeds, and artificial
intelligence-supported crop monitoring.
Over 10,000 smallholder farmers stand to benefit from training and technical support. The initiative
aims to boost food self-sufficiency, reduce import dependence, and enhance climate resilience.
Potential impacts include:
– Crop yields rising by up to 50%
– Farmer incomes increasing by 30%
– Water use reduction by 35%
– Food imports reduction by up to 15% over 5 years
The government envisions this project as a model for nationwide replication, advancing
Madagascar’s agricultural and economic future.
