Where We Work : Haiti : Livelihood Development

How to improve harvests of poor farmers

Two-thirds of all Haitians depend on agriculture, which contributes 28% of Haiti’s GDP. Destructive agricultural practices in the past, such as excessive deforestation and soil mismanagement, have made the country vulnerable to natural disasters. As part of a pilot programme, BRAC is partnering with 56 agricultural “micro-franchisees,” providing them with inputs and training to yield more and better crops, creating a source of increased income for themselves and their families and reducing food insecurity in the community.

Forests in Haiti have been severely diminished over the years due to massive deforestation, and many trees were destroyed in the earthquake affected areas.  As part a pilot programme, BRAC is working with nursery micro-franchisees by providing them with inputs and training to establish tree nurseries, where they grow saplings for both fruit and timber trees.  Thus far, 150 nurseries have been established by BRAC in five areas around Haiti: Jacmel, Fondwa, Leogane, Ganthier, and Ponsonde. A total of 220,000 fruit and timber tree seedlings have been planted to provide livelihood for farmers, and help promote reforestation.

Poultry and livestock were also casualties of the January earthquake, and many people in rural Haiti lost their only source of income. As part of the pilot programme, BRAC is partnering with 200 poultry and livestock micro-franchisees, providing them with initial stock, inputs and training so they can create livelihoods, generating income for themselves and their families and reducing food insecurity in the community.