input, low-output, land-mining agricultural strategy.


 A major incentive for migration is to seek out
villages with further possibility for expanding the
agricultural frontier. Insofar as migrants search for
better living conditions, poverty in the villages and
regions sending migrants is a driving force for natural
resource degradation elsewhere. Thus, alleviation of
poverty through improving access to public services,
such as schools and health services, enhancement of
domestic trade, and generation of off-farm income
opportunities has beneficial effects on the conserva-tion
of soils and natural resources. Our analysis sug-gests
that as land becomes scarcer, conflicts about common
property may reduce investments in soil con-servation
because of tenure insecurity. On the other hand, social
capital is found to significantly enhance soil fertility,
presumably by enabling villagers to agree on more
sustainable property rights regimes.
 Finally, while the potential of generating employ-
ment and income opportunities in Madagascar's rural
nonfarm sector should not be underrated, most rural
households will probably continue to depend either
directly or indirectly on agriculture and related animal
production. Agricultural intensification in the major
food crops, i.e., rice, cassava, potatoes, and maize, is
therefore called for. The results suggest, therefore, the
need for a greater role of public policy in improving
agricultural productivity through increased invest-
ments in agricultural research and extension.
Madagascar is a country where the Green Revolution
still needs to take place.

Keywords: Madagascar, rural development,
agriculture, poverty, income


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"Access to mtber-based financial Instfutons, such as credit
groups vlage bank or swings and credit cooperal1v socleies,
plays a signicant role in enabling agricultural Innnslficfalon In
Madagascar.. ."-DP82