Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world and lies in the Indian Ocean. Due to the island’s long isolation from neighboring continents, Madagascar is home to an abundance of plants and animals that can not be found anywhere else on earth. In addition, the country has many natural resources such as metals, gems and petroleum. It is the largest supplier of vanilla and ylang-ylang in the world. Coffee, lychees, shrimp and sugar cane make up further earned income. The sugarcane cultivation and the Rumindustrie developed at the beginning of the 19th century under the Gers Frenchman Jean Labord.