Why were the french in madagascar before they colonized it?

like what recources did they want to take back to europe?

Iin 1643, several French settlements emerged; the best known of these, Tolagnaro (formerly Faradofay) on the southeast coast, lasted for more than thirty years. The settlement survived in part because the colonists had taken pains to establish cordial relations with the Antanosy, the ethnic group inhabiting the area. Relations deteriorated later, however, and in 1674 a massacre of nearly all the inhabitants ended French colonization endeavors for more than a century; survivors fled by sea to the neighboring territory of Reunion.
Madagascar at that time was a popular hiding place where crews could recuperate and replenish supplies for another attack. By this time, the institution of slavery also had been implanted on the island. Madagascar became a source of slaves, not only for the neighboring islands of Mauritius and Rodrigues, but also for more distant points, including the Western Hemisphere.

In December 1894 - France invades Madagascar and takes the captial Tana on October 1, 1895. France loses only 20 men in battle during the campaign but more than 6,000 to disease.
1896 - France annexes Madagascar as a colony and later unifies the country under a single government.

From the outset, the colony's agricultural production was geared primarily for export. Coffee, rice and beef were of particular importance. The Central Highlands became the primary irrigated rice growing region for both subsistence and export. Ylang Ylang flowers, cloves, vanilla, and sugar cane were cultivated in the north; cattle, rice, and maize were major crops in the west. Coffee, which remains the island's major export crop, was planted on the east coast, the island region with the largest remaining forest cover (Economic Geography, 1993). According to Temple, the soil erosion rates on coffee plots are nearly double those of subsistence plots, because broad expanses of bare soil under the coffee bushes are particularly vulnerable to violent storms during the rainy season. In additions, Madagascar's emphasis on export production led to a pattern of uneven economic development and regional fragmentation which created increasing production pressures and demands upon environmental resources. Due to its labor demands and attractive producer prices, coffee cultivation increased in popularity among European settlers and Malagasy farmers.

Well i guess i was too late. NOTHING is gonna top the answer before me. I answer this for the points. MWAHAHAHAHAHA!
just kidding. but i seriously don't know.