This famous phrase attributed to Andrianampoinimerina, a Merina king, aims to encourage his people to work in the rice fields and build dikes to improve rice production. It underscores the importance of rice as a source of life and sustenance for the community. In a broader sense, it means the interdependence between the leaders and their subjects, illustrating how the well-being of one is essential to the well-being of the other. An equivalent English proverb would be ‘Working for a living.’