About Madagascar
Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world with a population of sixteen million people. The economy and life style of Madagascar is by and large agricultural, with such produce as rice, vanilla, (the largest producer in the world), as well as coffee. It is one of the world's largest producers of many spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and pepper).
Politics
In March 1998, Malagasy voters approved a revised Constitution. The principal institutions of the Republic of Madagascar are a presidency, a parliament (National Assembly and Senate), a prime ministry and cabinet, and an independent judiciary. The president is elected by direct universal suffrage for a 5-year term, renewable twice. The last presidential election was held on December 3, 2006.
The National Assembly consists of 160 representatives elected by direct vote every 5 years. The Senate consists of 90 senators, two-thirds elected by local legislators and other Grand Electors and one-third appointed by the president, all for 6-year terms. A prime minister and council of ministers carries out day-to-day management of government. The president appoints the prime minister.
Development
The country is experiencing rapid infrastructure development, including roads, electricity, and water. With a stable political system in place Madagascar is now exporting much of its abundant minerals, such as mica (the world's largest supplier), nickel, iron and phosphate. This results in a more modern, robust economy, providing more employment in manufacturing thus reinforcing the diversification of its human resources.
People of Madagascar
The Malagasy population originates from Indonesian and African decent. Much of their cultural influence is European. Madagascar was a French colony from 1896 to 1960, when it became an independent state.
Seasons in Madagascar
The ancestors of the Malagasies were aware of the different seasons of the year by observing the changes in nature. In other countries, a person's age is determined in years, but for the earlier Malagasies it was arrived at by the number of rainy seasons that person had witnessed. Even today, people will refer to the age of a two year old by saying "roa latsak'orana" (two rainy seasons), or a man as "roapolo
latsak'orana" (twenty rainy seasons).
Four seasons can be distinguished : fahavaratra (summer, rainy season), fararano (autumn), ririnina (winter), and lohataona (spring).
Fahavaratra "the time of breaking thunder" begins in November and ends in March.
Fararano "water's end" - April to June is signalled by the call of the cuckoo "taotaokafa" and it is the harvesting time for most rice.
Ririnina name derived from "riry" meaning "state of trees who have lost their leaves". This is the cold season whose beginning is marked by the falling leaves, the arrival of frosts, morning mists and cold. It begins in June and ends in August. It is also the dry season as the earth and vegetation is parched and springs and rivers dry up.
Lahataona "the beginning of the year" is spring. It occurs September and October and is marked by the return of hot weather.
The seasons of the year form the rhythm of the lives for the majority of Malagasies who are farmers. They depend on nature, rather than the calendar to dictate their daily activities, the most important of which is the cultivation of rice. After the dry season there follows some gusts of wind, an increase of temperature, some passing showers, and a few mists. This is the right time to plant the first rice and manioc roots. This first rice "vary aloha" will be harvested from December to March.
Then comes Lahataona and the 'ambiaty' bush begins to flower. When the bush is covered with its white or mauve flowers, people know that it is time to sow the rice. This rice is called " vary vaky ambiaty", meaning rice sown at the time of the flowering of the amviaty". This rice will be harvested in May, June and July.
Many fruits ripen during the rainy season - fahavaratra.
Some helpful sources of information about Madagascar include:
