Nasandratra Solofo Ravonjiarison

During her fellowship, Nasandratra Ravonjiarison will analyze over five years of field data on Malagasy farmers’ knowledge. This research will be used to integrate local insights with scientific perspectives. She plans to leverage interdisciplinary exchanges at CASBS and collaborative dialogues to foster innovative, sustainable agricultural practices rooted in participatory knowledge systems.

The in-depth analysis of those data will lead to academic publications and methodological advancements in participatory approaches. She also intends to develop systematic methods for sharing knowledge among farmers, researchers, extension workers, NGOs, and stakeholders through the establishment of a Farmers’ School. Ultimately, the school will promote continuous learning and empowerment through direct exchanges between all stakeholders, aiming to establish adaptable, effective, and sustainable models for resilient, inclusive agricultural development in Madagascar.

Ravonjiarisonis a researcher at Antananarivo University.  Her current research focuses on an innovative approach that links scientific and indigenous knowledge to co-construct solutions for improving productivity and sustainability. Using participatory methods, she seeks to develop a common knowledge base through surveys and collaborative engagement, bridging scientific understanding with farmers’ experiential insights to promote practices that are both productive and environmentally sustainable. Ravonjiarison is the STIAS-Iso Lomso Fellow at CASBS for 2025-26.

For more information, please visit: https://stias.ac.za/fellows/projects/local-soil-knowledge-a-tool-for-sustainable-agricultural-systems-in-madagascar/