Cultural Diversity and Developments
Madagascar has a unique blend of customs and faiths from Southeast Asia, India, the Middle East, and Africa. It is one of the seventeen megadiverse countries in the world. Approximately 250,000 species are found in Madagascar. Over 65 percent of the species found on the island of Madagascar are not found anywhere else on earth such as elephant birds. (Dewar & Wright, 1993). Madagascar is also home to the third largest coral reef system in the world. Madagascar has an estimated human population of 23 million people. Approximately forty-one percent of the population believes in Christianity, seven percent believe in Islam and fifty-two percent follow their indigenous religious beliefs. The two official languages are Malagasy and French. The capital and largest city is Madagascar is Antananarivo. Other largely …show more content…
Types of crops farmed in Madagascar are coffee, vanilla, sugar cane, cocoa, cloves, rice, beans, peanuts, and bananas (Jarosz, 1993)
. Rice is one of the main foods of Madagascar. Fishing, cattle, goats, and poultry are also important. Other industries are seafood, meat, and sugar processing; as well as manufacturing industries such as automobile assemblage. The primary ports of Madagascar are Toamasina and Mahajanga. Tourism also aids the economy of Madagascar.
Minerals reserves found in Madagascar are of bauxite, graphite, limestone, chromite, and mica. Madagascar is the tenth largest producer of chromium ores. The primary energy supply comes from the use of firewood, charcoal, and sugar cane residue. Many of the roads and airfield of Madagascar are not paved which may impede on economic production. In 2000 there were only about 10 percent of the country roads paved. The unpaved roads of the country cause problems with transportation during seasons of heavy rain which may limit the exchange of services, opportunities and goods.
Madagascar has a unique blend of customs and faiths from Southeast Asia, India, the Middle East, and Africa. It is one of the seventeen megadiverse countries in the world. Approximately 250,000 species are found in Madagascar. Over 65 percent of the species found on the island of Madagascar are not found anywhere else on earth such as elephant birds. (Dewar & Wright, 1993). Madagascar is also home to the third largest coral reef system in the world. Madagascar has an estimated human population of 23 million people. Approximately forty-one percent of the population believes in Christianity, seven percent believe in Islam and fifty-two percent follow their indigenous religious beliefs. The two official languages are Malagasy and French. The capital and largest city is Madagascar is Antananarivo. Other largely …show more content…
Types of crops farmed in Madagascar are coffee, vanilla, sugar cane, cocoa, cloves, rice, beans, peanuts, and bananas (Jarosz, 1993)
. Rice is one of the main foods of Madagascar. Fishing, cattle, goats, and poultry are also important. Other industries are seafood, meat, and sugar processing; as well as manufacturing industries such as automobile assemblage. The primary ports of Madagascar are Toamasina and Mahajanga. Tourism also aids the economy of Madagascar.
Minerals reserves found in Madagascar are of bauxite, graphite, limestone, chromite, and mica. Madagascar is the tenth largest producer of chromium ores. The primary energy supply comes from the use of firewood, charcoal, and sugar cane residue. Many of the roads and airfield of Madagascar are not paved which may impede on economic production. In 2000 there were only about 10 percent of the country roads paved. The unpaved roads of the country cause problems with transportation during seasons of heavy rain which may limit the exchange of services, opportunities and goods.