“The earthquake which struck south-west Haiti in August impacted principally rural populations, and clearly farmers have been affected lots.
Many misplaced their homes in addition to their grain and seed shops which collapsed within the tremor; the land of some farmers was additionally broken attributable to landslides. In some instances, fissures may very well be seen as the bottom opened up.
FAO has supporting farmers in Jérémie lengthy earlier than the earthquake, however our work right here is now as vital as ever. Farming has at all times been extraordinarily vital within the material of Haitian society.
The bridge
The bridge out of the city was broken and so vans can not cross, so it’s change into very tough for farmers to promote their produce in massive markets just like the capital, Port-au-Prince. Their grains and greens must be actually carried over the bridge on foot in the event that they need to export them.
Then there may be the safety scenario in Port-au-Prince, the place roads out and in are blocked, so even when vans can get out of Jérémie, the products could not attain town.
So, lots of meals has been wasted because it’s not possible to promote to the customers in different elements of the nation. Consequently, many farmers have misplaced cash and at the moment are extra susceptible than earlier than. And any items which come into Jérémie from elsewhere are costlier, so the price of residing goes up for all folks.
In Jérémie, we’re encouraging the native manufacturing of meals for native consumption in addition to the rising of seeds.
Ladies’s co-op
We help a ladies’s farming cooperative, a bunch of 63 ladies who work the land collectively to herald a harvest of quite a lot of natural greens. It’s originally of the season and at the moment they’re planting tomatoes and scorching peppers which is able to develop alongside cabbages.
They share the harvest, eat what they want after which promote the remaining within the city the place they’ll get good costs. You may watch the ladies strolling throughout the bridge with the produce stacked excessive in baskets on their heads. They don’t must spend cash on transport. And any cash they save could be invested within the financial savings credit score union which FAO helped them to arrange.
Natural seeds
FAO has additionally educated a 120-strong affiliation of farmers in Jérémie to develop good-quality natural seeds for their very own use and likewise for distribution to different susceptible farmers, lots of whom misplaced their shares within the earthquake.
Producing seeds is a really technical course of, so these farmers have change into specialists. This season they’re planting black beans, however they’re additionally expert at rising maize, manioc, and potato. FAO will purchase nearly all of the seeds and so the arduous work of 1 farming neighborhood will profit others, and particularly susceptible communities.
This strategy is constructing resilience and helps farmers to get better when a pure catastrophe like an earthquake strikes. This space has additionally had it’s share of hurricanes and droughts, so it’s vital farmers are properly ready.
I like working with farmers; they’re at all times dedicated to their land. They work arduous and combat on regardless of many setbacks. They imagine in the way forward for Haiti and I’m proud to help them as they proceed to develop.