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In the Comoros archipelago, jobs are scarce and income opportunities limited, while high population densities – more than 400 people per square kilometre – limit access to arable land. All these difficulties have led nearly 15 per cent of the population to emigrate abroad. In such conditions, a spirit of enterprise and innovation are major advantages, and microenterprises represent one of the rare sources of possible rural employment.

The Nioumakele Small Producers Support Project (APPN), launched in 1992 by IFAD, enabled small farmers to organize themselves around intensive development sites, then introduced the system of contouring to combat erosion, encouraged mixed cropping and promoted the use of improved plant varieties. Apart from introducing live fencing, the project also organized milk producers, thus making it easier for Agence Francaise de Developpement to launch a local milk processing plant in 2002.

They export around 80% of the world's supply of ylang ylang essence, an essential oil that is the main ingredient of most expensive perfumes.