Small Bags, Big Change

In Ankadivory, in the commune of Alakamisy Fenoarivo, mentioning Salohy’s name immediately brings to mind her thriving sack gardens. While many saw sack gardening as an unusual technique, she saw it as an opportunity to transform her daily life and that of her community.

A mother of three and a livestock farmer by profession, Salohy had never practiced sack gardening before the FARARANO Project.

“From the very beginning, I learned how to make compost and practice sack gardening, what we call vertical farming. I started applying it immediately.”

What initially began as a simple training quickly became a true passion. With just a few bags filled with fertile soil and compost, she started growing spinach, lettuce, and other vegetables around her home.

The results were immediate.

“With leaves and vegetables I grow now, I no longer need to buy any.”

For this mother, sack gardening first strengthened her household’s food security. Fresh vegetables are now readily available at home, significantly reducing household expenses.

But beyond improving nutrition, the practice has also become an additional source of income. Neighbors and local residents seeking chemical-free produce come directly to her to buy her vegetables.

“Customers come to you because they are looking for healthy products.”

Every three months, her small-scale production generates approximately 50,000 Ariary in additional income, on top of the savings made on food expenses.

Today, the impact of her initiative extends far beyond her own household. As a Farmer Leader, Salohy has turned her plot into a genuine learning and demonstration site. Her commitment, her ability to immediately apply the knowledge she has gained, and the visible results of her garden have earned her the trust and respect of her community.

“The people I support follow me because they see that I practice what I teach.”

Every day, she welcomes visitors, answers questions, shares her techniques, and encourages other families to get started. For her, sack gardening is much more than an agricultural technique.

“It provides food, something beautiful to look at, and an income for the family.”

Inspired by her example, many residents of Ankadivory have begun adopting the practice, convinced that it is possible to produce food even with limited space and resources.

Today, Salohy continues to dream bigger. She hopes to strengthen her role as a leader, further develop her cooperative’s agricultural activities, and continue inspiring other families.

Her story demonstrates that with a few bags of soil, appropriate knowledge, and a willingness to share, a woman can not only improve the life of her own family but also become a catalyst for change for an entire community.

For Salohy, the name of this transformation is simple:

“Improving Lives.”