Agriculture

Here is a picture of a Sisal Plant Factory in Port-au-Prince, Haiti in 1950.This sisal plan was built to produce fiber for the United States, Department of Defense Sisal is used for a variety of materials such as furniture, construction, cars, plastics and paper products.

Sisal is a stiffer fiber stripped from the leaves of the Mexican agave plant which is spun into a yarn-like material. The sisal fiber is traditionally used for rope and twine, but has many other uses like paper, cloth, footwear, hats, bags, carpets, and dart boards. Its strongest natural fibers make it incredibly durable. Sisal rugs are the best fit for high-traffic areas in the home because of its strength, durability, ability to stretch, affinity for certain dyestuffs, and resistance to deterioration in saltwater in places like hallways and entryways. Sisal is also used in low-cost and specialty paper, mattresses, wire rope cores, filters, buffing cloth, geotextiles carpets, handicrafts, and Macramé. Sisal's natural creamy white hue can be dyed any color to suit your interior design scheme. The fibers from the leaves can be used in their coarse, raw state which is more inflexible or can be blended with other fibers, such as wool, to produce a softer material.

Agave Sisalana is a succulent plant closely related to the plant which brings us tequila. Since sisal is an agave, it can be distilled to make a tequila-like liquor. A sweetener is often extracted from its agave nectar (also called agave syrup) and used as an alternative to sugar in cooking. It grows in dry, desert climates such as the plains of Mexico and other parts of the New World. Dedicated sisal farms have been established, especially in Africa and Brazil. Sisal was used by the Aztecs and the Mayans to make crude fabrics and paper.

The plant is quite hardy and can grow year round in hot climates and even in arid or dry regions that are typically unsuitable for other crops. Its growth depends on the level of rainfall, the altitude, and the location. Its production cycle can be up to 12 years during which it can produce up to a total of 180 to 240 leaves for its growth and crop for this fiber can grow up to four tonnes per hectare. It can grow to upwards of 15 feet in height and can have numerous plants and baby plants linked with it. Sisal has been considered as an environmentally friendly strengthening agent to replace asbestos and fibreglass in composite materials in various uses including the automobile industry.

Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere where only 11.3% of the land is well suited for agriculture, where 14% people are unemployed and about 60% people live below the poverty line, the production of Sisal can play an important role in its economy. It could be a good means to generate income and bring the unemployed out of frustration.

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Here is Minister of Economy and Finance Wilson Laleau - New program "Agribusiness"

Some of the responsible positions that Hon. Wilson Laleau had served in the past, include: Minister of the Economy and Finance, Haiti, Governor at Inter-American Development Bank and Governor at The Caribbean Development Bank. He was the Minister of Economy and Finance during the presidency of former President Martelly. As a minister, he initiated a support program for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in agriculture and agribusiness sector to improve and increase productivity. A funds named ' Industry Development Fund (IDF)' with an amount of 1 billion 200 million gourdes was created to provide loans to agricultural companies fulfilling certain eligible criteria. Under the program, an aspiring beneficiary to the fund must hold a standard unit of land covering an area of 10 hectares or about 12 tiles-- the land could be owned by a single beneficiary or jointly by several land owners which could be construed as one single unit.

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Haiti ranks among the top ten world producers of mango fruits and it is one of the main fruits grown in the country.
The Haitian mango francisque is one of the most popular varieties in the international markets and the only mango exported due to its compliance with USDA/APHIS certification requirements. Francisque Mango accounts for about 15% of the total mango production and many Haitian farmers grow this type of mango in the Central Plateau.

Francisque Mango is the main product variety marketed outside of the country. It receive world wide recognition and love. They are plump, juicy mangoes with lots of fruit on them. Once they are ripe, Francisque Mangos are soft with an orange or gold freckled skin. The have a rich, fresh, smooth, and distinct tropical flavor.

Francisque Mango is unique to Haiti. The Dominican Republic tried to implant these trees home, hoping to take advantage of its international reputation, it did not work for them. They have not been able to produce the variety that seems to exist only in Haiti due to difference in the regional climatic conditions.

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This is a farming method that was popular during the slavery period in Saint Domingue, now known as Haiti. What is exactly the Haitian Kombit? It was the perfected method of working the land during slavery, It is called a rotating cooperative approach to planting and harvesting. This method is still being used in many regions in Haiti today

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Haiti is the leading producer of Vetiver in the world. It is reputable for its high quality vetiver oil that distinguishes itself as light, golden amber, and its fragrance is sweet, smooth and earthy.

Growers in Haiti in the towns of Massey, Faucault, and Bazelais produce a specialty crop, Vetiver. It is an essential oil used by French perfumer, Givaudau.

Givaudau and the growers formed a cooperative, Givaudau/Agri-Supply, so the delivery system for Vetiver could be modernized from the fields to the distillery. This meant repairing the road along which Vetiver is transported to the distillery. Benefits accruing to the growers are access to necessary services in the area.

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Former US President who was one of the architects to provide subsidies to US farmers and presently the Co-chairperson of Haiti's earthquake recovery Commission has now realized that such policy was a 'mistake'--it has not worked in Haiti. There is no doubt that reduced food price was unquestionably a necessity because it allowed people to eat, but at the same time price reductions have also negatively affected rural Haitians. During the 1980's Haiti was self sufficient in rice, but today it imports 60% of its overall food supply and 80% of its rice from US because it is cheaper to import than produce. The farmers during the harvest season are sitting idle in the fertile valleys; dumped foreign rice in the Haitian market has eclipsed Haitian production, farmers are jobless. Huge subsidies received by US farmers have unfairly deflated international prices. As a result poorer nations are finding it difficult to get self-sufficient and develop their economies by expanding markets abroad.

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On December 9, 2015 the Ministry of Agriculture in Haiti entered into an agreement with businessman Marc Antoine Acra where his business NABATCO where would have the right to sell and distribute the product "VITAZYME" to allow Haitian farmers to farm. Marc Antoine Acra believes that his product is going to help growers and farmers to get better results.

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Here is a picture of Haitian Agriculture Minister, Joanas Gué.

The former Minister of Agriculture, Jonas Gué was one among the six potential candidates to the post of the Prime Minister which was published on Friday, February 19. His other five contenders for the post were: the economist and former Governor of the Haitian National Bank, Fritz Jean (the present Prime Minister); Director of the Radio Télé Antilles international, Jacques Sampeur; Myrlande Hyppolite Manigat, a presidential runner-up in 2010; the former Senator Dieusseul Simon Desras ; and the former Senator Edgar Leblanc Fils from OPL (Organisation du peuple en lutte). We might remember that in February 2010, following the devastating earthquake, then Agriculture Minister Jonas Gué asked for debt relief when he visited Rome to meet with senior officials of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) during the 33rd session of the Funds' Governing Council. He convinced them to ease the burden in order to rehabilitate and strengthen Haiti's agriculture and rural sector following the previous month's devastating earthquake. In July 2010, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) cancelled its $268 million debts owed by Haiti and extended a loan support amounting to $60 million under extended credit facility (ECF) plan.

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Here is a picture of agronomist Pierre Gary Mathieu. He dies at Age 50

Haitian agronomist, Pierre Mathieu, died on November 22, 2015 at a U.S. hospital in New York City. He headed up several programs throughout his career relating to agriculture development and disaster preparedness. As an educator, he taught at the Faculty of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine (FAMV). He became a specialist in Management Initiatives at the University of Connecticut.

Three agencies he helmed were the Agricultural Inputs Store as a representative of Ministry of Agriculture, Nationural Resources, and Rural Development (MARNDR); Intersectoral Commission for Production and Seeds (ICPS; and Planning and Emergency Program Evaluation (PNUD). Also appointed as National Consultant to the World Food Program, he advised department managers at the International Alliance Against Hunger. He last worked as the National Coordinator of the National Coordination for Food Security (CNSA). In both capacities he lectured on food security, which was plaguing schools. In disaster preparedness he directed the Planning and Emergency Program Evaluation.

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Here is a picture of Haiti Minister of Agriculture, Fresner Dorcin and Charles (Kiko) St Remy. It was reported that Minister Dorcin was physically insulted by the brother in law of President Michel Martelly on a deal of over $500,000

According to the executive director of National Network Defence of Human Rights (RNDDH), Pierre Esperance the brother of the first lady of Haiti, Sophia Martelly, Kiko Saint Remy and the Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Frenser Dorcin got involved in a rift following an incident that took place on 4 July 2015 in Petition Ville.
The conflict took place over financial matter. Kiko St. Remy claimed that the Agricultural Minister owed him money for a deal and an understanding between the two. The amount given to him by Dorcin was according to him inadequate, considering much Remy had done for him.

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