Public/Private Partnership
A little over six months after the signing of the tripartite agreement between the Fitia Association, chaired by the First Lady of Madagascar, the Nutriset Group and the Mérieux Foundation, chaired by Alain Mérieux, the NutriSud factory (October 1st 2021 - Fort-Dauphin) began its production of nutritious products for school canteens in southern Madagascar, hit by famine and malnutrition. Managed by the Fitia Association, this unit was designed by Nutriset and funded by the Mérieux Foundation.
The project was first mentioned in 2019, during a meeting between Alain Mérieux, President of the Mérieux Foundation, and Malagasy President Andry Rajoelina. The management of the plant was then granted to the Fitia Association on March 15, 2021, with the signing of an agreement establishing and operating a container-plant designed by the Nutriset Group in Fort-Dolphin.
School canteens
The products designed by NutriSud are intended for school canteens in the Anosy region. The factory will produce 8,000,000 nutritious sachets per year, including peanuts and milk to provide energy and protein for children. This "turnkey" container factory contributes to the fight against malnutrition in the Anosy and Androy regions, where, according to the World Food Program, nearly 750,000 people are in a nutritional crisis. Figures also confirmed by the Malagasy National Nutrition Office, according to which nearly 35% of children in the Anosy region are stunted.
Women empowerment
NutriSud also promotes the empowerment of women in the region, who are the main recruiting pool. Thus, the factory employs 16 people and intends to double its workforce during 2022. In addition, the project also aims to rely on local agricultural sectors, and to revitalize them in order to provide the raw materials and ingredients necessary for the production. like peanuts.
"We are very happy to have been able to participate in this great project. Its impact will be twofold. First of all, by bringing these products to children, they will have a better ability to learn in school, which is essential for their future and that of the country. In addition, the implementation of a factory also makes it possible to boost the economic fabric by creating jobs and being an economic outlet for the agricultural sectors in the region ”
Adeline Lescanne-Gautier, CEO of the Group,
inauguration of the plant, on October 1
