Developing an agricultural college

The project initially aimed to rehabilitate, outfit and develop the Ambatomainty agricultural college. Since 2015, the college had been accommodating 35 students in a dilapidated building. In order for this fifth college to become fully operational, its infrastructure had to be rehabilitated so that it could accommodate 90 full-board students (3 classes), as well as the six-person teaching team. A farming demonstration plot was also to be developed. The project aimed to enable the college to gain recognition and consolidate its credibility at both regional and national level.

The agricultural college originally planned at Ambatomainty could not be completed because of a land dispute. FERT, Fifata and Fekama were able to identify a new site in Manganoro, close to Ambatondrazaka. Most of the infrastructure had to be built, rather than reconstructed, and a well had to be drilled, at no extra cost to the Foundation. During the course of the project three classes graduated having followed the training, and by the end the college was operating close to its full capacity with 81 students residing at the boarding house. 40% of students who graduated in 2018 from the Manganoro site were women.

The French association FERT was launched in 1981 by agricultural professionals and people concerned with agro-food challenges in developing countries. FERT has been working in Madagascar since 1986.