Table 3.--Estimates of potential tobacco production in Madagascar by area and type, by 1972 
Production by type 
a 
Maryland and other Corse Total 
Geographic region District production, 
all types 
Concessions A Concessions ] 
(Industrial aoe (Industrial slated te 
Production) P Production) PS Uo 
pe jos 
West Coast 
1,000 pounds | 1,000 pounds} 1,000 pounds | 1,000 pounds|1,000 pounds 
Tsiribihina Basin Miandrivazo, Belo, a 
MAHA. ce eccccccccccccee 4,409 661 -- -- 5,070 
Basins of Betsiboka, Ambato-Boeni, Maevatanana, 
Bemarivo, and Sofia Mampikony, Port-Bergé... 4,189 1,102 -- -- 5,291 
High Plateau 
Lake Alaotra Ambatondrazaka......... eee -- 441 -- -- 441 
Lake Itasy Soavinandriana, 
Miarinarivoses..6.sc1cicieisas -- 1,543 -- -- 1,543 
Tsiroanomandidy, 
ANJOZOTODE...ceccccccces -- 331 -- -- 331 
Vakinankaratra Ambatolampy...-c.cssceceseee -- 287 -- -- 287 
ANCBITADEC Sei o\e oaieie'e 00.0 0.0 e016 -- 287 -- -- 287 
AmbohimahasSoa..-cccccscceee -- 331 -- -- 331 
Ambala Va Os syala\o csicio cine sss cies mis a= = + 1,014 1,014 
Total | 8,598 4,983 -- 1,014 14,595 
1 This is an estimate for the potential production of corse tobacco in the South in an area which would include Ambalavao, 
Fianarantsoa, Beroroha, and Ihosy. 
Tobacco Research.--Tobacco research has been carried on at Station 
d’Essais d’Ambohiman, The station is located about 40 miles south of 
Tananarive and was started by S.E.1.T.A, Following Independence, the French 
left the station, and the staff is now made up entirely of Malagasys, 
Marketing 
There is a typical marketing pattern for Madagascar's tobacco entering 
commercial channels, which is sold to the Monopoly or its successor by 
growers in the Lake Itasy area. (The production there is handled by small 
individual operators), The grower takes his tobacco to a local gathering 
station; from there it is taken to the plant--located in the area--where it is 
fermented, graded, and packed under supervision of representatives of the 
French Monopoly. The tobacco fermenting, grading, and packing operations 
are spread over several months and give employmentto several local people. 
The tobacco is packed in bales (80 lb.) ready for transport by truck to the 
railroad at Tananarive and thence to the Melia cigarette plant in Antsirabe, 
or for export. 
The Maryland type tobacco grown on Madagascar differs from U.S. 
Maryland tobacco. After fermentation, a common process, it differs even 
more, since Maryland tobacco is not fermented in the United States, Con- 
siderable weight is lost in the fermentation, estimated at 8 percent, 
The Tobacco Monopoly had, at the time of the author's visit, other 
functions connected with Madagascar's tobacco industry, besides marketing. 
4 
