| Sitampiky | |
|---|---|
  Sitampiky Location in Madagascar | |
| Coordinates: 16°40′S46°6′E / 16.667°S 46.100°E | |
| Country |  |
| Region | Boeny |
| District | Ambato-Boeni |
| Elevation [1] | 115 m (377 ft) |
| Population (2001) [2] | |
| • Total | 21,000 |
| Time zone | EAT (UTC3) |
Sitampiky is a town and commune (Malagasy : kaominina) in north-western Madagascar approximately 240 kilometres north-west of the capital Antananarivo. It belongs to the district of Ambato-Boeni, which is a part of Boeny Region. The population of the commune was estimated to be approximately 21,000 in 2001 commune census. [2]
Malagasy is an Austronesian language and the national language of Madagascar. Most people in Madagascar speak it as a first language as do some people of Malagasy descent elsewhere.
Madagascar, officially the Republic of Madagascar, and previously known as the Malagasy Republic, is an island country in the Indian Ocean, approximately 400 kilometres off the coast of East Africa. The nation comprises the island of Madagascar and numerous smaller peripheral islands. Following the prehistoric breakup of the supercontinent Gondwana, Madagascar split from the Indian subcontinent around 88 million years ago, allowing native plants and animals to evolve in relative isolation. Consequently, Madagascar is a biodiversity hotspot; over 90% of its wildlife is found nowhere else on Earth. The island's diverse ecosystems and unique wildlife are threatened by the encroachment of the rapidly growing human population and other environmental threats.
Antananarivo, also known by its colonial shorthand form Tana, is the capital and largest city of Madagascar. The larger urban area surrounding the city, known as Antananarivo-Renivohitra, is the capital of Analamanga region. The city is located 1,280 m (4,199 ft) above the sea level in the center of the island and has been the country's largest population center since at least the 18th century.
Primary and junior level secondary education are available in town. The majority (77%) of the population of the commune are farmers, while an additional 15% receives their livelihood from raising livestock. The most important crop is raffia palm, while other important products are maize and rice. Services provide employment for 3% of the population. Additionally fishing employs 5% of the population. [2]
Raffia palms (Raphia) are a genus of about twenty species of palms native to tropical regions of Africa, and especially Madagascar, with one species also occurring in Central and South America. R. taedigera is the source of raffia fibers, which are the veins of the leaves, and this species produces a fruit called "brazilia pods", "uxi nuts" or "uxi pods".
Maize, also known as corn, is a cereal grain first domesticated by indigenous peoples in southern Mexico about 10,000 years ago. The leafy stalk of the plant produces pollen inflorescences and separate ovuliferous inflorescences called ears that yield kernels or seeds, which are fruits.
Rice is the seed of the grass species Oryza sativa or Oryza glaberrima. As a cereal grain, it is the most widely consumed staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in Asia. It is the agricultural commodity with the third-highest worldwide production, after sugarcane and maize.
