Ouangani
Ouangani: Interior Grande-Terre commune, ylang-ylang cultivation, 4% annual population growth straining infrastructure, post-Chido reconstruction needs.
Ouangani is an interior commune on Grande-Terre, Mayotte's larger island, representing the traditional agricultural economy that predates the territory's transformation into France's most migration-stressed department. The commune cultivates ylang-ylang (essential oil used in perfumery) and food crops on volcanic hillsides, though commercial agriculture struggles against cheaper imports from Madagascar and mainland France. As France's poorest department, Mayotte receives fiscal transfers exceeding 50% of GDP, yet rural communes like Ouangani see limited infrastructure investment compared to Mamoudzou. The population of 320,000 (estimated 100,000 undocumented from Comoros) grows at 4% annually—France's highest—straining schools, healthcare, and water systems even in rural areas. Cyclone Chido (December 2024) damaged agricultural plots and housing across the interior, with reconstruction competing against urban priorities. France's 2024 constitutional amendment ending birthright citizenship may slow population growth but reduces the informal agricultural labor force. By 2026, Ouangani's viability depends on whether reconstruction investment reaches beyond the capital and whether ylang-ylang commands premium prices as global fragrance demand grows.