Food security in Madagascar

This political strife, in combination with the global financial downturn, led to a 4 percent decline in economic growth in 2009 (World Bank 2012).

Nevertheless, vulnerability of Madagascar's population has been worsened over years of natural disasters, political instability, and limited investment in social infrastructure, with coping mechanisms largely exhausted.

[2] On account of its geographic position, Madagascar succumbs every year to the effects of natural disasters, which routinely strike different regions of the country and affect the food situation of different sections of the population.

In 39 years (from 1968 to 2007), tropical storms, cyclones and consequent floods have caused damage estimated at nearly US$1.6 billion and affected 8 million people.

[5] The National Disaster Risk Management (DRM) System consists of a decentralized structure of DRM committees (notably at region, district and commune levels) under the umbrella of the Conseil National de Gestion des Risques et des Catastrophes, under the Prime Minister's Office.