The Zanatany System

SpeedRice Madagascar

Challenges in Madagascar:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.