“The earthquake which struck south-west Haiti in August impacted largely rural populations, and clearly farmers had 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 might 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 essential as ever. Farming has all the time been extraordinarily essential within the material of Haitian society.
The bridge
The bridge out of the city was broken and so vehicles can now not move, so it’s grow to be very troublesome 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’s the safety state of affairs in Port-au-Prince, the place roads out and in are blocked, so even when vehicles can get out of Jérémie, the products could not attain the town.
So, a number of meals has been wasted because it’s unimaginable to promote to the customers in different elements of the nation. In consequence, many farmers have misplaced cash and are actually extra susceptible than earlier than. And any items which come into Jérémie from elsewhere are costlier, so the price of dwelling 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 girls’s farming cooperative, a bunch of 63 girls who work the land collectively to herald a harvest of a wide range of natural greens. It’s initially of the season and in the present day 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 remainder within the city the place they will 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 have to spend cash on transport. And any cash they save might be invested within the financial savings credit score union which FAO helped them to arrange.
Natural seeds
FAO has additionally skilled a 120-strong affiliation of farmers in Jérémie to develop good-quality natural seeds for their very own use and in addition for distribution to different susceptible farmers, a lot of whom misplaced their shares within the earthquake.
Producing seeds is a really technical course of, so these farmers have grow to be 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 exhausting work of 1 farming neighborhood will profit others, and particularly susceptible communities.
This strategy is constructing resilience and helps farmers to recuperate when a pure catastrophe like an earthquake strikes. This space has additionally had it’s share of hurricanes and droughts, so it’s essential farmers are properly ready.
I like working with farmers; they’re all the time dedicated to their land. They work exhausting 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.
