Malakass, challenges and impacts of industrialization in Madagascar.

Malakass 👉 Cassava transformation into naturally gluten-free flour in Tulear.
Observing that cassava is an underutilized commodity in the region, entrepreneur Houssen Mebobaly aims to structure this sector by bringing farmers together into a cooperative and buying fresh cassava from them daily at a fair price.
Convinced of its impact potential, Miarakap invested in Malakass in 2021.
We have supported the entrepreneur through various stages of growth, from sourcing to establishing strategic partnerships, recruitment, and market research.
Malakass currently employs about ten people in its factory and sources from numerous partner farmers within a 100 km radius around the city.
Driven by his impact vision, the entrepreneur was selected to join the first cohort of the Start-Up Program Mitsiry accelerator with USAID Madagascar in 2022:
👉 Valorization of cassava produced in large quantities in the region
👉 Improvement of incomes and living conditions for local producers
👉 Fight against poverty that leads to accelerated environmental degradation
👉 Soil preservation through responsible farming methods, without pesticides or chemical fertilizers
However, the challenges of industrialization in Madagascar are real, and even more so in the South:
🚩 Insufficient qualified talent, usually recruited from nearby major cities
🚩 Administrative slowdowns
🚩 Difficulty accessing energy
🚩 Various logistical challenges, etc.
Miarakap is delighted to be part of this great adventure, which has allowed us to understand the ins and outs of impact entrepreneurship, especially in a region highly exposed to the consequences of climate change. This has enabled us to mobilize many development actors within our network and that of our partners.
The Malakass product was launched on the market in 2022 with 5kg and 25kg formats, primarily sold to restaurateurs and gastronomy professionals.
The 1kg format is now available in almost all major supermarkets on the Great Island and is making its way into Malagasy households' kitchens. A great achievement!
The big challenge now: securing a prominent place in large-scale distribution !