Bionexx: Inauguration of the agricultural farm “Faharetana”

The company Bionexx officially opened its agricultural farm “Faharetana” which is located in Antongona, Imerintsiatosika last Saturday. This farm, spanning over a surface of 658ha, is dedicated to the cultivation of Artemesia Anua and other aromatic plants. Artemesia is well known for its power to cure malaria.

Since the company’s establishment in 2010, its cultivation site produces between 30 and 40 tonnes of Artemesia per year which are enough to produce between 60 up to 80 million doses of drugs. International drug manufacturing companies like Novartis and Sanofi buy Artemesia from the company to manufacture drugs like Coaritem. Unfortunately, these drugs are not accessible to most Malagasy people because of their very high prices.

The farm employs 500 workers per day who are doubled up during harvest time. They are paid 3000 Ariary per day. During the inaugural speech, the Head of the fokontany Morarano, Rabaonarivelo Malasoa, declares that “the arrival of Bionexx in their community is beneficial to them because it creates jobs for fokonolona”. 230 ha of land are rented out during season of rain to farmers. 30ha are about to be acquired which will be destined for the peasantry system, generating about 600 additional workforces.