By 2040, Madagascar aims to revitalize its agricultural sector to make it the main engine of shared prosperity. To achieve this goal, the island nation is banking on local processing of its products. Industrial crops can be a major asset for Madagascar, according to agricultural policy. The challenge is set. In its new agricultural and food sovereignty policy through 2040, Madagascar intends to fully exploit its agricultural potential. Authorities plan to stimulate crops with strong industrial transformation potential. According to projections in this roadmap, these sectors should generate over 500,000 jobs and inject 800 million dollars into the national economy. Particular emphasis is placed on rice, corn, sugarcane, bananas, and cotton. According to Agriculture Ministry figures, current rice production stands at 5.25 million tonnes, yet national consumption still requires imports of around 500,000 tonnes annually. Madagascar thus aims to reach 11.256 million tonnes of rice production by 2030. For corn, the country plans to increase from annual production of 450,000 tonnes—insufficient to meet local industrial needs—to 1.5 million tonnes by 2030, with a targeted export capacity of 600,000 tonnes. High Precarity For sugarcane, authorities project producing 350,000 tonnes of sugar within four years. Current production is estimated at 2.7 million tonnes of sugarcane, yielding 150,000 tonnes of sugar. Bananas, meanwhile, have been a historic export product for the island for over five decades. Current production is around 350,000 tonnes, with 250,000 tonnes exported by companies such as Sobena and MafRob. "The goal is to reach 600,000 tonnes by 2030, with an exportable volume of 450,000 tonnes worth 262 million dollars," the national agricultural policy states. The same applies to cotton, a currently precarious sector undergoing industrial revival. The stated objective is to produce 90,000 tonnes of fiber, or 200,000 tonnes of cotton seeds, generating 42 million dollars in exports. To date, Malagasy agriculture remains characterized by high precarity and low mechanization rates. Industrial-scale production would create added value for Malagasy products, fill local market deficits, and allow export of surpluses. "Madagascar stands at a crossroads in its agricultural sector: transforming traditional practices to address climate change, rural poverty, and food security challenges requires shifting to modernized, mechanized agriculture with improved varieties and better irrigation," the strategic document emphasizes. The text stresses the need for a break: "The country must move away from subsistence models by promoting competitiveness and integration into value chains. To make agriculture and livestock resilient and prosperous, Madagascar must adopt fluid, integrated policies focused on innovation and sustainability. This requires coherent governance with stable public policies favoring agroecology, digitalization, and diversification." Itamara Otton