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The plantation in March

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This March we are taking advantage of the end of the rainy season to plant 2000 Dodonea madagascariensis (“Tsitoavina” in Malagasy), a species that is endemic to Madagascar. This is an evergreen shrub growing to 2-8 metres in height. It occurs in brushwood, mountains and rocky or poor soils. It is known for its ability to withstand long periods of drought. The Tsitoavina is a fast-growing, robust tree that is adept at adapting to degraded pioneer sites. It is a source of nutrients for silkworms (indeed, this land was used for sericulture even before the 20th century thanks to Tsitoavina plantations!).

This species also boasts medicinal properties. To this effect, it can be used antivirally, antibacterially and as a painkiller* and its diuretic effects make it suitable for the treatment of high blood pressure, portal hypertension, heart failure and types of oedema.

We are also taking advantage of the wet season to prepare the ground for our next planting campaigns, in particular the one this coming December. We are capitalising on the fact that the earth is moist and more malleable, as the dry season is always quick to arrive and will last until October or even November. In this period, therefore, the team is marking out new plots and the lines where the different rows of trees will stand in order to be able to work the land geometrically. Each of our plots measures one hectare, with 3-metre gaps between each row and firebreaks on the perimeter.


We’ll have more news soon!

Marie


* To do so, decoct 25 g of dried leaves or 100 g of fresh leaves in a litre of boiling water for 10 minutes and then leave it to infuse for a further 20 minutes. Finally, drain and drink the litre of liquid over the course of the day.

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