06:00
PROSOL
The Boeny region is currently severely affected by climate change and bushfires, leading to soil erosion, deforestation, and a decrease in biodiversity. The PROSOL project, financed by the German Cooperation (GIZ), is operating in 12 communes in four districts of the Boeny region, targeting 36,000 hectares of land to protect and rehabilitate, and over 20,000 beneficiary households. It is committed to scaling up agroecological approaches through training on agroecology, aiming to improve agricultural production and promote the adaptation of family farms in maize and sorghum sectors, as well as on soil protection activities in areas outside of agricultural operations. It is important to note that agroecology technique involves enhancing soil fertility through crop association and rotation, as well as improving the agricultural environment, taking into account the overall environment. It is an innovative technique that uses certified and good-quality seeds, as well as tree planting.
07:00
VISA FOR THE UNITED STATES
Since June 3rd, the application fees for entry visas to the United States are collected only at the US Embassy in Antananarivo at the time of the interview, according to the current consular exchange rate. It should be noted that the US Department of State has increased certain fees for non-immigrant visa (NIV) processing and border crossing card (BCC) fees for Mexican citizens aged 15 and older. These increases took effect on June 17, 2023. Thus, the application fees for visitor visas for business or tourism (B1/B2 and BCC), and other NIVs without a visa application, such as student visas and exchange visitor visas, have increased from $160 to $185. The application fees for certain non-immigrant visas for temporary workers (H, L, O, P, Q, and R categories) have increased from $190 to $205. Finally, the application fees for a trader, an investor, or a candidate for a specialized profession (E category) have increased from $205 to $315. Other consular fees remain unchanged, including a waiver of the two-year residence requirement for certain visitors in an exchange program. Applicants who have already paid the visa application fees, which are currently valid and not expired, but have not yet attended their visa interview or are waiting for their application to be processed, will not have to pay additional fees.
09:00
HIGHER STUDIES
According to the 2023 statistics, 5061 Malagasy nationals are currently pursuing their studies in France, reports the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. France is thus the main host country for Malagasy students, it is reported.
11:00
TURTLES
In Madagascar, 5383 land turtles have been seized since January, according to reports. In the Great Island, turtles are threatened by consumption, national and international trafficking, illegal trade, domestication, transformation into souvenir objects, and the loss of their natural habitat. “If this continues, these animals could disappear within 10 years,” warns INDRI (Initiative for Development, Ecological Restoration, and Innovation). This laboratory of strategies to accelerate change in Madagascar calls for the protection of turtles and strict enforcement of laws against illegal trafficking. INDRI invites everyone to respect Malagasy traditions by protecting turtles, sacred symbols of wisdom and longevity. “Let us preserve these invaluable creatures for future generations by renouncing poaching and illegal trade,” it urges.
13:00
CUSTOMS
Following President Andry Rajoelina’s visit to Ivato Airport, the customs services organized a meeting to define the responsibilities of each person, as part of the implementation of various changes and measures adopted to improve border services. These measures include the creation of a green channel, intended for travelers who do not have goods or who only have goods that can be admitted duty-free and are not subject to import prohibitions and restrictions, without prejudice to random customs control; and a yellow channel intended for all other travelers with goods to declare, especially those traveling with more than 3 large suitcases. Other reorganizations include the launch of the “Customs MDG” application to facilitate customs control of passengers, the implementation of a simplified declaration to speed up declaration procedures for certain categories of goods, awareness of payment of taxes by credit card or mobile money, as well as the installation of glass cabins for customs employees.
14:00
COMESA GENDER POLICY
The Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE), Emi-Haulain Kola, participated yesterday in a workshop on COMESA’s gender policy, the implementation plan, and guidelines for promoting gender equality. The objective of the workshop was to raise awareness among participants about COMESA’s gender equality policy and the associated planning and implementation tools. MAE attaches great importance to all national and regional initiatives aimed at enhancing the equal participation of men, women, youth, and vulnerable groups.
15:00
MORA HOUSING IN IMERINTSIATOSIKA
The State Secretariat in charge of New Cities and Housing (SENVH) recently met with the randomly selected beneficiaries who meet the selection criteria for the acquisition of the 320 Mora housing units in Imerintsiatosika. The meeting focused on the payment terms for these properties and the procedures to follow for their final acquisition. It should be noted that the payment for all Mora housing units distributed throughout the entire Grande Île is carried out over a period of 15 to 20 years, according to SENVH, through a collaboration with banks that have already been selected for loans in this context. Households that can settle their debts within 5 years benefit from a payment facilitation directly from the National Agency for Housing and Habitat Support (ANALOGH).
16:00
MITSINJO RIAKE
A new union of fishermen has been created in the commune of Andranopasy, in the district of Manja, Menabe region. Named “Mitsinjo Riake,” this union brings together six associations of fishermen from different local communities who manage Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMAs). Since 2018, these communities have taken the initiative to come together with the support of WWF to strengthen their actions in favor of the conservation of natural resources. WWF has provided its expertise to structure the union, revise and validate its statutes and regulations this month of July. The members of the board were then elected, bringing the number of representatives responsible for defending the interests of fishermen in sustainable management-related decisions to sixteen. The president of the union, Ramarolahy Nandrasanitahy, stated that his vision was to promote the villages in the Andranopasy area through strengthened community management of resources. According to him, this union will improve the living conditions of local communities and ensure good fisheries management. With the joint support of WWF, the Regional Directorate of Environment and Sustainable Development (DREDD), and the Regional Directorate of Fisheries and Blue Economy (DRPEB), the union of fishermen has been officially recognized at the level of the Manja district. The vision of the union is to restore the marine resources in the Andranopasy area by 2035 through effective management of natural resources.
17:00
SAVA
The Sava region is one of the regions that benefit from the amphibious vehicle “SHERPS,” a contribution from the World Food Program aimed at transporting essential supplies to the most isolated areas and under particularly complex conditions. Representatives of the organization presented the vehicle yesterday to the Chief of the Region, Teddy Gervais Seramila, as well as various local authorities. The use of SHERPS offers several advantages, such as the ease of driving on difficult terrains, the reduction of delivery time for goods, and the capacity to carry heavy loads and passengers, as it can support a load of up to 2 tonnes and accommodate 15 people on board, it is reported.
