Bôn Nouvèl: IFAD USD 10 million rescue package for farmers in Haiti

IFAD USD 10 million rescue package for farmers in Haiti
under FAO initiative for Soaring Food Prices

Rome, 27 October 2008 – Communities in Haiti suffering severe food insecurity are to be assisted by a US$10.2 million package which will quickly boost Haiti's battered agriculture sector.

The funds come at a time when Haiti is facing the double challenge of recovering from recent hurricanes, which the government estimates have caused at least US$500 million in losses, and feeding its people, many of whom were facing food shortages even before the storms struck.

The agreement was signed on 22 October 2008 between the Government of Haiti, and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is providing the funding.

In Haiti IFAD's US$10.2 million is being implemented through the FAO's recently-established Initiative on Soaring Food Prices (ISFP), part of a larger package of assistance to poor smallholder farmers.

In Haiti smallholder farmers make up 80 percent of the agricultural workforce and many of them are facing severe under-nourishment.

The aim of the agricultural rescue package is to have a quick impact on local production, increase the availability of basic food products in the markets, and strengthen food security in the population at large.

The assistance will boost agricultural production in the current and coming 2008-2009 agricultural season by supporting hundreds of thousands of small farmers and their families, who have been gravely affected by the increase of food prices.

Over the past four years, food prices have increased by an average of 18 percent annually, affecting in particular staples such as rice and maize as well as beans, oil and other basic foods. Both rural and urban populations have been severely affected by the crisis which has resulted in widespread hunger, economic crisis and social and political unrest.

Through the project, over 240 000 smallholder farmers will receive a package comprising, among other inputs, vegetable seeds, cereal seeds, manioc, sweet potato and banana plants. National capacity for seed production and other local agricultural organizations will be strengthened in an effort to improve food security across the country.

The project will be implemented, with immediate effect, over the coming 15 months.

Malgre rezilta yo pap vizib anvan yon period omwen 12 mwa, si nou gade byen,
pwogram saa kapab bay pwodiksyon agrikilti an yon bon bourad.

Gouvènman an dwe mete tout mezi an plas pou pwodiksyon an pran vitès:
règleman, enspeksyon , transparans.

Mete zouti lan men fèmye yo pou yo bay randman.
Epi se gouvenman an ki gen dosye a paske se li ki signen agreman saa olye de NGO.

Bravo Joanas Gué.

http://www.fao.org/about/about-fao/en/

The agreement was signed on 22 October 2008 between the Government of Haiti, and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is providing the funding

Sasaye a écrit:http://www.fao.org/about/about-fao/en/

The agreement was signed on 22 October 2008 between the Government of Haiti, and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is providing the funding

Sasaye,

Se paske ou pa konnen sakap pase an Ayiti ki fè wap voye konpliman a dwat a goch pou moun ak oganism ki pa merite'l.

Les politiciens haitiens ne sont pour rien dans le décaissement de ces fonds.

Meme durant la période d'embargo ou l'International allait axphysier le gouvernement Aristide-Neptune, IFAD n'avait pas cessé de supporter des projets agricoles en Haiti.

Par exemple, durant la période 2000-2004, le projet Petits Périmètres Irrigués avait recu un financement de $ US 23 millions de dollars de IFAD et d'autres organismes internationaux. J'avais travaillé dans ce projet. Voici une esquisse du bilan, réalisation et budget de ce projet.

http://www.websolutionfl.net/budget.html

Récemment, mai 2007, IFAD a reconduit et refinancé ce meme projet pour une enveloppe de $ US 27 millions.

http://www.ifad.org/media/press/2007/27.htm

En resumé, nous avons toujours recu le support de ces bailleurs internationaux mais malheureusement ces fonds n'ont jamais produit des résulats concrets et aujourd'hui nos paysans sont encore plus pauvres.

Cependant, quand je vois IFAD réduire son enveloppe à 10 millions, je commence à etre triste. Cela signifie, nous faisons plus partie de leur priorité.