The Toliara Province (formerly Toliary or Tuléar) is a former province of Madagascar with an area of 161,405 square kilometres (62,319 sq mi). It had a population of 2,229,550 (July, 2001). Its capital was Toliara. Near Toliara was the "spiny forest". Toliara Province bordered the following provinces – Mahajanga Province in the north, Antananarivo Province in the northeast and Fianarantsoa Province in the east.
Economy and population
Masikoro Malagasy and Tandroy Malagasy were the chief languages.[1]Sea cucumbers were exported from the province and were an important factor in its economy.[2] The deciduous Andronovory forest was located in the province.[3]
The province was the poorest one in Madagascar. In 1993, 8 in every 10 person of the province was living below the poverty line. Despite the production of export crops the province recorded the highest rural poverty.[4][5] The average fertility rate per woman was above 5.[6] With 77 percent of its population being illiterate, Tolaira was the most illiterate province of Madagascar. Only 22 percent of the province's population had received primary level education.[7][8]
The commercially valuable softwood tree Givotia madagascariensis, found in Antananarivo and Toliara provinces was endemic to Madagascar.[9] The oil producing plant moringa drouhardii was endemic to Toliara province.[10]Deforestation was a major issue for the province.[11] In April 1971, a peasant rebellion was organised by MONIMA leader Monja Joana. The peasants refused to pay taxes and the government retaliated by dissolving MONIMA and deporting Joana.[12]
Toliara province offered poor transport and security facilities.[13][14] Potable water was accessible to only 24.9% of the province's households.[15] It was rich in terms of minerals.[16][17] Toliara province was in the news in July 2005 for its mining activity.[18]
Toliara Province was divided into four regions of Madagascar - Androy, Anosy, Atsimo Andrefana and Menabe. These four regions became the first-level administrative divisions when the provinces were abolished in 2009. They are sub-divided into 21 districts:
Madagascar
