The zanatany system
Smarter. Faster. Cheaper.
Redefining rice cultivation.
What is zanatany?
A successful regenerative rice cultivation system.
100% organic and sustainable.
PRINCIPLES
Direct seeding
Mix cropping and rotation
Fodder compensation
Local production of natural and quality inputs
Minimal tillage
Livestock integration
Agroforestry integration
Impact
community members reached (55% women)
money saved
soil regenerated
Resources
Training videos
- English
- French
Training videos
Watch training videos on the Zanatany Principles, available in Malagasy with English and French subtitles.
Training posters
- Malagasy
- French
Training posters
Download training posters on the Zanatany Principles, available in Malagasy and French.
Speedrice madagascar
The per capita consumption of rice in Madagascar is one of the highest in the world. Yet despite annual rice production averaging four million metric tons, Madagascar is not self-sufficient at meeting its own demand. This propelled the creation of the SPEEDRICE Project, a pilot funded by Innocent Foundation. SPEEDRICE aimed to empower smallholder farmers to produce rice in an innovative and more efficient way. It gave rise to the Zanatany System.
SPEEDRICE MADAGASCAR
Challenges in Madagascar:
Prevalence of malnutrition
High food insecurity
Highest per-capita rice consuming country that cannot meet its own demand
Climate variations impact crop seasons and outputs
Low access to agricultural equipment and tools
The Zanatany System was first tested in Madagascar through the Scaling-up, Promoting and Expanding Effortless Direct-seeding Rice permaculture (SPEEDRICE) Project and adapted across various agro-ecological zones in Madagascar from 2019-2023. It was implemented in Madagascar across five regions (Sofia, Diana, Sava, Analamanga, Itasy), training over 21,500 smallholder farmers, with an adoption rate of 34%. Implementation continues beyond the project period.
With a strategic objective to satisfy the food needs of vulnerable smallholder farmers and help them adapt to the impacts of climate change, including to changing weather patterns, the SPEEDRICE project increased sustainable rice yields, improved soil health, and helped farmers to diversify their production. It did this by training community leaders how to advocate and teach the Zanatany System to local farmers, whilst strengthening Community Based Savings Groups (CBSGs) to better manage and enhance their financial resources. The project propelled a network of farmers who support one another, learn together, and test new ideas. Given the resounding success of the SPEEDRICE Project, the Aga Khan Foundation is testing and adapting the Zanatany System in other countries where it operates including in India, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Studies
Stories
Meet the Malagasy farmers finding success with the Zanatany System
Mr Rabarison’s story
Discover how the Zanatany System has revolutionised a farmer’s life in Ambodirano, Madagascar
Read More
A story of Community-Based Savings Groups (CBSG)
Learn how a group of CBSGs is adopting and promoting the Zanatany System
Read More
Mrs Vololomboahangy’s story
Learn how women farmers are drawing success from the Zanatany System
Read MorePartners
THE ZANATANY SYSTEM
Zanatany means ‘native child of the earth’ in Malagasy. Drawing on its name and breaking away from tradition, the Zanatany rice cultivation system (the Zanatany System) directly seeds ‘native’ rice plants into the earth, rather than transplanting ‘aliens’ grown in nurseries. Developed in Madagascar, this ground-breaking system redefines efficiency and harnesses the power of innovation to yield harvests in record time.
The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) co-developed the Zanatany System with smallholder rice farmers in Madagascar as an alternative to the labour-intensive System of Rice Intensification (SRI). The goal was to create a flexible system that could be adapted to different topographies and replicated globally, while requiring fewer inputs and being less labour-intensive – particularly for women.
More than half of the world’s population globally uses rice as a nourishing, staple crop as part of their daily diets. Rice is also a source of income for over 200 million smallholder farmers worldwide (source: World Bank). However, irrigated rice fields are a major source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and one of the greatest agricultural contributors to climate change. Impacts of climate change such as erratic rainfall and change in weather patterns also greatly affect smallholder rice farmers.
AKF was therefore confronted with the challenge of increasing food security in a region that has inefficient access to food, while doing so in a sustainable, future-focused way. The Zanatany System is based on seven simple principles that can be implemented gradually. It has shown promising results for productivity, cost and labour reduction, and harvest precocity.
Direct Seeding
In the first year, farmers plough and prepare the soil as they normally would. They then seed the rice directly onto plots, in pockets of three seeds, at a distance of 25cm and in a square pattern using knotted strings to ensure optimal alignment. They cover the sowed seeds with dry manure or domestic ash powder to avoid them being pecked by birds.
Direct Seeding
Mix cropping and rotation
Fodder compensation
On-farm production of natural and quality inputs
Minimal tillage
Livestock integration
Agroforestry integration
Mix cropping and rotation
Once the rice has started blooming, the rice field drains. This signals the moment for farmers to sow additional legumes such as beans or cowpeas within their rice field. When the rice is ready for harvesting, farmers harvest the panicles only, leaving the stems for the legumes to climb. Once these mature, farmers harvest the pulses only, leaving the plant material in the field. This organic matter converts into mulch, creating a moisture-retaining and actively nourishing environment for directly sowing other cereals, pulses, and vegetables including maize, millet, wheat, barley, peas, and fava beans. This approach ensures the harvesting of all crops in the crop associations. It leaves crop residue undisturbed, thus effectively completing the annual cycle.
Direct Seeding
Mix cropping and rotation
Fodder compensation
On-farm production of natural and quality inputs
Minimal tillage
Livestock integration
Agroforestry integration
Fodder compensation
The crop residue left in the field to feed soil life means a significant loss of fodder for livestock. To compensate this loss, AKF promotes high yielding fodder systems that combine four key components:
(1) improved prairies (more diverse and better managed),
(2) fodder crops mixed with other food and cash crops,
(3) mixed hydroponic combining cereals and legumes,
(4) mixed fodder trees cultivated on the farm.
Direct Seeding
Mix cropping and rotation
Fodder compensation
On-farm production of natural and quality inputs
Minimal tillage
Livestock integration
Agroforestry integration
Agroforestry integration
Trees are a vital part of any sustainable farming system. AKF promotes tree planting on farms and is exploring the possibility of co-developing authentic ‘rice agroforestry’ in collaboration with farmers in the future.
Direct Seeding
Mix cropping and rotation
Fodder compensation
On-farm production of natural and quality inputs
Minimal tillage
Livestock integration
Agroforestry integration
Minimal tillage
As soil becomes richer in organic matter, its ability to store humidity and nutrients improves and microbial life thrives. The soil becomes considerably softer, requiring only minimal line tillage. Soil life is maintained and its carbon sequestration capacity strengthened, while significantly reducing labour costs.
Direct Seeding
Mix cropping and rotation
Fodder compensation
On-farm production of natural and quality inputs
Minimal tillage
Livestock integration
Agroforestry integration
Livestock integration
AKF views farming as a complex system with countless interactions. Livestock, including cattle, small ruminants, pigs, birds, fish, insects, and earthworms are an essential component of this system. They provide manure and urine, rich sources of energy and soil fertility, whilst contributing to pest control.
Direct Seeding
Mix cropping and rotation
Fodder compensation
On-farm production of natural and quality inputs
Minimal tillage
Livestock integration
Agroforestry integration
Local production of natural and quality inputs
Farmers can drastically reduce their costs by producing their own high-quality seeds, natural pesticides, and organic fertilisers. AKF has developed considerable expertise in this area and trains farmers on how to become self-sufficient in producing natural and quality inputs locally, while maintaining optimum yields and managing pests and diseases.
Direct Seeding
Mix cropping and rotation
Fodder compensation
On-farm production of natural and quality inputs
Minimal tillage
Livestock integration
Agroforestry integration
