Cassava is known for its ability to grow on degraded soils and under water stress. It is widely used by farmers as the last possible crop when soils are degraded and is often their only mean to meet their needs, either for self-consumption or for animal feeding. In Madagascar, TAFA and CIRAD recently proposed to intercrop Cassava with Brachiaria ruziziensis, Brachiaria brizantha or Brachiaria humidicola. Such an association presents several advantages: A tremendous increase in Cassava yield, (as long as Brachiaria and Cassava have been intercropped for at least 1 year) explained by the improvement of soil structure by Brachiaria roots, which benefits to Cassava. Cassava yield is multiplied by 2.4 on average: when yield ranges 4.5-13 t/ha in pure stand, Cassava associated to Brachiaria produces 11-30 t/ha, without any fertilisation. Furthermore, farmers find that Cassava tuber are softer and taste better, especially during the dry season. 1. Production of forages for animal feeding, 2. A flexible working calendar: Not only the planting time is very flexible, but this association allows better cassava tuber conservation in the soil, for several months, which makes it possible to harvest over a longer period of time, when it is needed and labour available, 3. Soil conservation and improvement: Brachiaria sp. improves soil structure, injects C in the soil and increases water infiltration. It is then possible to start direct planting of various crops in the Brachiaria mulch, including upland rice. This technique is now recommended and spreads very fast in several regions of Madagascar, on degraded ferrallitic "tanety" (hills): Lac Alaotra, Humid South West, Central highlands (but not in the semi-arid areas, where Brachiaria competes with Cassava for water). It already has been adapted by farmers, who developed the association of Pineapple with Brachiaria (with the same beneficial effect). Planting Brachiaria sp. before planting trees also is recommended as trees will lar