Attachments
1. Introduction
Haiti is currently considered the poorest country in Latin America and the Caribbean. Its people suffer from a food security and poverty crisis. In rural areas, up to 90% of Haitians are living below the poverty line and currently 4.3 million Haitians are in need of immediate food assistance (IPCinfo 2022). It was recently ranked in the world’s worst 10 hunger crises (FAO 2022). Since 2009, agroecological practices have been implemented in the Northern Plateau of Haiti, with the support of Partenariat du Developpement Local, an NGO. Based on research within the districts of Pignon, Saint Raphael and Mombin-Cochu, it is found that the scaling-up of agroecological model farming would result in a significant economic infusion into rural economies, improvements in livelihoods and enhanced climate resilience.
Key messages for policy makers:
• The adoption of agroecological model farming leads to impressive increases in productivity and a doubling of per hectare profitability in the Northern plateau of Haiti.
• Additionally, these agroecological practices can increase water retention and carbon sequestration in the soil, reduce topsoil losses and mudslides, and increase food security.
• Farmer-centered and decentralized agricultural innovation, extension and development needs to be supported.