Silver Spring, Maryland—A Malagasy farmer who received agricultural training from the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) was recently honored by the president of Madagascar for his performance as the 10th best rice producer in this Indian Ocean island-nation.

Jean de Dieu Rakotonirina received the award in December 2007 for his performance in a rice production contest organized by Madagascar's Ministry of Agriculture, harvesting 11 tons of rice for each two acres of land sowed. A model farmer since 2005, Rakotonirina received training on improved agricultural techniques through ADRA's TANTSAHA project, a six-year food security initiative that is increasing food accessibility for 18,000 households in the Moramanga and Anosibe An'Ala districts of eastern Madagascar.

TANTSAHA, a USAID-funded food security project, aims not only to improve the local community's agricultural practices, but also to tackle important issues such as infrastructure, natural resource management, and health and nutrition interventions. The project name, TANTSAHA, stands for Tetik'asa Antoky Ny Tontolo Salama Ambanivohitra sy ny Harena Ampy in Malagasy, which translated means "The Healthy and Prosperous Farmers Project".

This project is training farmers in new and/or improved farming techniques, and helping to facilitate access to better seeds, tools, and other important agricultural implements. The project is also making it easier for farmers to reach markets, by improving roads and developing marketing cooperatives and business associations.

In addition, ADRA is working to improve health and nutrition in the region through initiatives that will directly impact the nutrition of young children, as well as pregnant and lactating women, including strengthening the health system, and providing health education and direct nutritional assistance.

This food security project currently operates in 26 of the 31 communes in the Moramanga region. In its third year of operation, the project reached more than 120,000 beneficiaries.

ADRA has been working in Madagascar since 1991, and has been an officially recognized nongovernmental organization (NGO) in Madagascar since 1992. Since then, ADRA has implemented various initiatives in Madagascar, including two major food security programs, two child survival programs, and a flex fund program that focuses on family planning. ADRA is also providing emergency food aid to eight communities in the Androy Region of southern Madagascar.

ADRA is present in 125 countries, providing community development and emergency management without regard to political or religious association, age, gender, race, or ethnicity. Additional information about ADRA can be found at www.adra.org.

-END-

Author: Nadia McGill

Media Contact: Hearly Mayr ADRA International 12501 Old Columbia Pike Silver Spring, MD 20904 Phone: 301.680.6357 Mobile: 301.526.2625 E-mail: Media.Inquiries@adra.org