4,750 tonnes of lychees exported
For the second year in a row, Madagascar has carried out a satisfactory marketing campaign for its lychees for export. According to the specialist journal Fruitrop from CIRAD, exports to Europe reached 14,750 tonnes at the end of 2021-beginning of 2022, which is a little more than the previous campaign (14,250 tonnes).
“Benefiting from a good early harvest and satisfactory fruit quality, Malagasy lychees sold quickly during the end of year celebrations, rate the review. The extent of marketing was more concentrated, particularly due to the simultaneous start of export campaigns by air and the scheduled loading of conventional ships.. The logistical adaptation was particularly judicious to supply the markets at the most favorable times for promoting the product in the mass distribution circuits”. Malagasy exporters sold their fruits at 2,70 euros per kilo on average.
Corruption : the Big Island still very poorly ranked
Madagascar obtained a score of 26/100 on the 2021 Corruption Perception Index, made public at the end of January. The Big Island ranks in 147th position, out of 180 countries assessed by Transparency International. His score was 25/100 in 2020. A non-significant development, comments the representative of the non-governmental organization in Tananarive, which highlights in particular the lack of transparency in the management of the Covid fund.
Covid-19 : 11% of Malagasy people vaccinated
Delayed start in May 2021, vaccination against Covid-19 is progressing only slowly in Madagascar. As of February 7, 1,Only 9 million people had received at least one dose, or 11% of the 16 million Malagasy people targeted by the campaign. L’Unicef, which coordinates the logistics of the international Covax system in the country (Covid-19 Vaccines Global Access), considers Madagascar's official objective unrealistic (9 million vaccinated by the end of 2022). It would be necessary, to do this, that the pace of vaccination be multiplied by ten. Among the obstacles encountered : difficulties of access to certain regions, the absence of refrigerators in more than a quarter of basic health centers… and the lack of involvement of national authorities, who continue to praise the anti-Covid herbal tea created locally in 2020. Many Malagasy people are also reluctant to receive an injection due to multiple rumors about the risk of vaccination.
