In Fort Dauphin, in the south of Madagascar, a group of ten courageous and determined women founded the “Vehivavy Miray” association. These women, all single mothers, have joined forces to improve their daily lives and those of their children. Lala Julienne, the association’s president, vice-president and treasurer, tells us about their journey. 
For some time now, these women have been in the baking business, making bread and cakes. However, they had never used orange-fleshed sweetpotato purée, contenting themselves with wheat flour. One day, someone introduced them to the idea of incorporating this puree into their daily products to reduce the use of wheat flour, which is often in crisis.
In May 2024, thanks to support from the International Potato Center and funding from Mionjo, a World Bank project, they received a potato chip machine. This acquisition marked a decisive turning point for the association. By integrating the orange-fleshed sweetpotato puree, they gained significant benefits: their breads and baking products became softer and got better quality. What’s more, the association could reduce the quantity of cooking oil used, saving costs.
The association now uses 50 kg of sweetpotato puree per week, generating substantial profits. By December, purchase orders are pouring in, reaching up to 20 bags of caca pigeons (a culinary specialty of Madagascar. These are salty croquettes, often served as an aperitif or snack.They are prepared with flour, eggs, turmeric, cumin and oil for frying) and 2,000 pieces of cakes. Their loyal clientele includes local churches, as well as schoolchildren.
Each day, they sell up to 800 donuts, as well as T-plats (a traditional bread from southern Madagascar, often made with flour. It is particularly popular at special events and celebrations. This bread is known for its unique texture and delicious taste, making it a must for local festivities) and cakes. The products are shared among the members, who then sell them at the market. What unites these women is their status as single mothers and their commitment to daily sales. Thanks to the evolution of the association, it now has over 80 members.
Due to the potato chip machine, they have gained many benefits and aim to improve their daily lives. Additionally, they are becoming ambassadors for the orange-fleshed sweetpotato, striving to raise awareness about its numerous uses.
Profits from sales are pooled and used when needed. In the future, the plan is to set up a company to produce orange-fleshed sweetpotato derivatives, thus continuing their mission of transformation and innovation.
The International Potato Center is providing technical assistance to promote the production and processing of orange-fleshed sweetpotatoes (OFSP) as part of the World Bank’s Mionjo project. This project aims to improve the socio-economic situation of local communities through the promotion of sweetpotato production and marketing, as well as improving food security and community resilience to climate change and other challenges.
The creation of at least 50 economically viable small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) based on OFSPs, with an emphasis on women and young people, is one of the project’s objectives. The Vehivavy Miray association is one of these SMEs, benefiting from the technical support and resources needed to develop their activities. The project also aims to establish a permanent capacity at district level to support and develop at least three types of business in the OFSP value chain.