Assessing the level of agroecological transitions in family farming in Madagascar’s Central Highlands

AbstractContext: Given the current challenges facing agriculture, agroecology is emerging as a promising strategy for improving the sustainability and resilience of agricultural systems, particularly for family farms. In the Central Highlands of Madagascar, agroecological practices are promoted through various projects. However, quantifying them remains difficult and complex.Objective: This study aimed to assess the level of agroecological integration among 486 family farms in the Vakinankaratra and Itasy regions of Madagascar.Methods: Based on the agroecology assessment guide developed by the Groupe de Travail sur les Transitions Agroécologiques (GTAE), we adapted and validated an agroecological integration score tailored to the context of the Central Highlands of Madagascar. The score is constructed from 19 components grouped into six main dimensions: crop and livestock diversity, ecological synergies, resource economy and recycling, self-reliance based on the utilization of local resources, soil protection, and contribution to territorial dynamics. These dimensions provide a comprehensive understanding of farms’ commitment to the agroecological transition.Results and conclusions: The results show an average score of 30.72, indicating that the farms studied are generally at a “moderately agroecological” level. However, this average masks significant heterogeneity among farms, which exhibit varying levels of progress in the agroecological transition. Certain practices are already well established, notably crop diversification and the recycling of organic matter. In contrast, other areas, such as soil protection, animal vaccination, or the optimization of ecological interactions, remain underdeveloped. Overall, agroecology is already present in the Central Highlands, particularly through so-called traditional practices. Nevertheless, additional efforts are needed to strengthen this transition. It therefore appears essential to support producers through training programs, exchanges of experiences, and tailored technical assistance.Significance: This study provides a practical way to better understand how family farms in Madagascar are progressing toward agroecology. By revealing the practices that are already well established and those that still require support, it offers useful insights for researchers, policymakers, and development practitioners to design more effective actions and help farmers strengthen their transition toward more sustainable farming systems