Chickens that actually live like chickens - outside, on grass, moving freely. Farms that put life back into the soil instead of stripping it out. A local food economy where the money stays in the community. And families who can afford to eat well without it costing a week's wages. When we chose the name, we weren't just looking for something that sounded good. We were setting a standard: everything we do should create more life, not less.
Why "Velona"?
In Malagasy, velona means alive, living, thriving. It's the perfect word for what we're building.
The Price Paradox
Madagascar has abundant land, a climate that grows food year-round, and hardworking people who know how to farm. So why does chicken cost as much here as it does in wealthy countries?
The answer is a broken system:
imported feed, imported equipment, imported knowledge, imported everything. Each import adds cost. Each cost gets passed to you.
We're rebuilding the system from the ground up. Local feed ingredients. Local processing. Local expertise. Local ownership.
The goal isn't just cheaper chicken. It's a food system that actually works for the people who live here.
How We Work
We follow principles developed by regenerative farmers around the world, adapted for Madagascar's climate and conditions.
Daily pasture rotation:
Our chickens move to fresh grass every morning. This keeps them healthy, spreads fertility naturally, and lets the land recover.
Local feed sourcing:
Madagascar grows cassava, rice, maize, and groundnuts. We're developing feed formulations that use what's already here, cutting costs and building relationships with local farmers.
Transparent operations:
We document everything. Our successes, our failures, our costs, our methods. When we figure something out, we share it.
Cooperative future:
Our test farm is just the beginning. The real vision is a network of independent, locally-owned farms using shared systems and knowledge. More farms, more jobs, more chicken, lower prices.
Our Team
Velona Farms was founded by people who believe Madagascar's food system can be better—and who are willing to do the work to prove it.
We're farmers, not just investors. We're here for the long term, learning alongside the community, making mistakes, and building something that lasts.
Narcisse Rambeloson
Operations Manager, Co Founder
RnD, Systems, Founder