A government decision to ban rice exports to cushion Madagascar against spiralling global food prices will bring temporary relief, but observers say the island's goal of food self-sufficiency will remain a pipedream unless underlying problems are dealt with.

Unlike the thousands of other homeless children in the Madagascan capital of Antananarivo, Tovo considers himself lucky. He and his friend, Jiva, have secured a begging spot near the luxury Tana Plaza Hotel.