Multi-activities to ensure daily life

By Maharavo Lalatiana, CCEGS PROSPERER Itasy Madagascar

Translated by Nasthassia

Mr RANDRIANARIMALALA Edmond has always been a fish farmer. He started by fishing in the Itasy Lake, one of the famous, in the middle of Madagascar, over 80km from Antananarivo. Then he provided retailers in the capital and realized that fishing can well ensure food security. Thus, he decided to do fish farming in rice fields which was thought not to be adapted for these activities. He was socially chided but he never gave up.

With PROSPERER support, he got in touch with selected fish producers so that any unknown fish variety can’t reach his rice field. These professional producers also advised him in technical fish growing.Using traditional fish growing technique, he could produce 100kg to 150kg of fish a year. When he started to increase production, he could raise this up to 320kg. Now he can get 520kg of fish a year by using selected fish variety and following modern fish growing technique shown by fish producers.But he isn’t entirely satisfied; he still needs more resources.

Mr Edmond realized that his village likes watching football, but to watch the Football World Cup, on TV, there is no place and means to do so. He purchased a satellite dish, a TV and an electricity generator to earn more money and also satisfy his neighbors. The room was always full because the entry cost was affordable. He also bought speakers and he showed films going from place to place to ensure atmosphere of festivity. Now the impact of his efforts can be seen. His house has been renovated during this year. At the beginning, many people didn’t have faith in his activity and project, but now there are many who are taking lessons from his experience and copying him.

Rural Micro enterprises profiting micro finance, Port Bergé Madagascar

By Doré, Business adviser PROSPERER, PORT-BERGE Madagascar

Translated by Natshassia

Three blacksmiths: RAMBELONARISON, DADAFARA and LAIZY, from Port Bergé, a district in the north-western part of Madagascar, around 600km from the capital, decided to use micro finance.

They each received 100 000Ar: (50USD) to be used as working capital so that they could better satisfy the local demand. They made efforts to increase their production, next year they plan to focus on improving the product quality. They also have business advisers to help them.

The main problem they faced was the product prices were too low so they moved to another region, they spent one week moving from place to place. They wanted to double the price from 3000Ar (1.5USD) to 4000Ar (2USD) a piece instead of 1 500Ar (0.75USD) as they did before.“The demand level is high but row materials weren’t enough” DADAFARA said. That’s why they took out a loan from micro finance bodies supported by the IVO/FANOITRA of their area.

Rural Micro enterprise’s testimony: Positive result from participation to the Malagasy Handcraft fair and the National Rural fair 2010

By NJARA, Business adviser Prosperer Sofia Madagascar

Translated by Nasthassia

RABERANTO Clement, 44 old, a carpenter from Mandritsara in the North-Western part of Madagascar, over 800km from Antananarivo had participated in the Malagasy Handcraft fair on July 2010. He is a rural micro enterprise man and says about his participation: “I, above all, participated in these fairs to find some outlet apart from our district; I am curious about the same products as mine to improve the quality of my production. It was also a chance to evaluate the effect of the trainings I was involved in: entrepreneurship and marketing.

Even If I didn’t bring back home a lot of money I can say that the result was very good: I gathered many customers and entrepreneurs addresses; and it’s difficult to quantify all the relations established during the fairs. For example, I got three tables order from an Antananarivo’s customer. I also got 925m2 of “PARKEX” (floor made of palissandre) orders. There was a French entrepreneur who discussed with me about establishing commercial link via Internet with me. I’ll honor my order after a month, at this same time we will negotiate about some PARKEX order.

Finally, I want to share with those who have the same activity as mine that participation to these fairs is really beneficial as we can learn about producing better quality which is competitive in the market. With or without support, I‘m not afraid anymore to participate in these events.”

ADRIEN: a model of Rural microenterprise, supported by PROSPERER-SOFIA-Madagascar

By Mamie and Jean business advisers, SOFIA Madagascar
Translated by Nasthassia

Adrien is a beekeeper in Sofia, a region situated in the North-Western part of Madagascar, more than 700km from the capital. He’s 28 and working hard to overcome poverty. He has never been trained before and now he has support from PROSPERER about entrepreneurship and the other training themes as beekeeping techniques, management and marketing. He’s a real entrepreneur and has a mind of his own. “I was away during these trainings about beekeeping and entrepreneurship. However, I realized the difference between traditional beekeeping products and the modern ones; I learnt from my neighbors who had received training”, Adrien says.

So we can say that Adrien is a curious, very willing and brave person in the entrepreneurship area. Now he has ten standard beehives and he is still building another. He aims to own forty beehives by the end of 2010. He doesn’t believe in trial and error; he planned and has set objectives. Otherwise, he has also been successful in identifying and finding a place in the national fair: FIERMADA 2010.

Adrien has many good qualities required for an entrepreneur: curiosity, dynamism, clear goals and respect for his own development plan, taking advantage of the existing support mechanism and resources.