Toliara Province

Template:Infobox settlement The Toliara Province (formerly Toliary or Tuléar) is a former province of Madagascar with an area of Template:Convert. 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.Template:Sfn Sea cucumbers were exported from the province and were an important factor in its economy.Template:Sfn The deciduous Andronovory forest was located in the province.Template:Sfn

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.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn The average fertility rate per woman was above 5.Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn

The commercially valuable softwood tree Givotia madagascariensis, found in Antananarivo and Toliara provinces was endemic to Madagascar.Template:Sfn The oil producing plant moringa drouhardii was endemic to Toliara province.Template:Sfn Deforestation was a major issue for the province.Template:Sfn 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.Template:Sfn

Toliara province offered poor transport and security facilities.Template:Sfn Template:Sfn Potable water was accessible to only 24.9% of the province's households.Template:Sfn It was rich in terms of minerals.<ref>List of minerals</ref>Template:Sfn Toliara province was in the news in July 2005 for its mining activity.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Abolition

The provinces were abolished following the results of Malagasy constitutional referendum, 2007 which led to the formation of 22 smaller areas (faritra or regions) to facilitate regional development.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Administrative divisions

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:

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