Arabfields, Maleeka Kassou, East, West and Central Africa Agriculture Correspondent — Madagascar’s rice industry is growing increasingly concerned about the sharp rise in imports, as larger volumes of foreign rice enter the domestic market and put pressure on local producers already facing difficult farming conditions.
Rice is more than a commodity in Madagascar. It is the country’s most important staple food and a central part of daily life for millions of households. For farmers across the island, however, the growing presence of imported rice has raised fears that locally produced crops could become harder to sell at prices that cover production costs.
The concern intensified after rice imports rose dramatically over the past year. Import volumes increased from about 262,000 tonnes in 2024 to more than 800,000 tonnes in 2025, a rise of more than threefold. The scale of that increase has prompted growing debate within the country’s agricultural sector about the impact of foreign competition on domestic producers.
For a rice farmer, the issue is immediate and personal. When imported rice arrives in large quantities and competes directly with local harvests, farmers can face weaker demand at a time when they need income to prepare for the next planting season.
The government has also moved to support domestic producers through direct purchases of locally grown rice in some producing regions. In Bongolava, for example, authorities recently bought paddy from farmers as part of efforts to protect producers and stabilise the market.
At the same time, Madagascar continues to rely on imports to help meet national demand, underlining the difficult balance between keeping rice affordable for consumers and protecting the livelihoods of local farmers.
The pressure on the industry comes as the government seeks to strengthen domestic production through new agricultural programmes. A five-year phase of the rice productivity improvement programme launched in 2026 is expected to focus on increasing production and improving rice quality in key farming regions, including Alaotra-Mangoro and Boeny.
The success of those efforts could be critical in determining whether Madagascar can reduce its dependence on imported rice in the years ahead.
Current trade patterns suggest that imports will remain an important part of the market in the short term. Unless domestic production rises significantly and supply chains improve, foreign rice is likely to continue filling gaps between local output and national consumption.
For farmers, the next few seasons could therefore be decisive. Higher yields, improved access to technology and stronger market support could help domestic producers compete more effectively. But if imports continue to grow faster than local production, pressure on farm incomes could intensify.
Madagascar’s rice sector now faces a difficult test. The country must ensure that consumers have access to sufficient and affordable rice while preventing a growing dependence on imports from weakening one of its most important agricultural industries.
The outcome will be measured not only in national trade figures, but also in the fields and villages where thousands of farming families depend on rice for their income and livelihood.
