IDB to invest $55 million in agriculture and agroforestry in Haiti

Haiti will soon have new technologies to develop its agricultural and agroforestry sectors, improve productivity and boost food security thanks to a $55 million grant from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

The main focus of Haiti’s Technological Innovation for Agriculture and Agroforestry Program (PITAG, after its French initials) is to boost up small agricultural producers’ revenues and food security. In particular, the program seeks to raise farm productivity and improve the use of natural resources with the creation and transfer of sustainable agricultural and agroforestry technologies.

In 2016 Haiti ranked 115 out of the 118 nations listed in the Global Hunger Index. A report published in 2015 by the World Food Program showed that approximately 47 percent of Haiti’s households are affected by moderate to severe food insecurity. In addition, one-fifth of Haitian children under five years of age suffer chronic malnutrition.

The new project will help raise farmers' revenues and food security in selected areas. To this end, it will promote the creation and adoption of innovative and sustainable agricultural and agroforestry technologies. Additionally, the program will finance applied agricultural research programs to help with the transfer of know-how to small producers.

The Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development Ministry (MARNDR) will be the main executor of the project, which will also strengthen the ministry’s institutional capabilities through the Innovation Directorate.

The Bank's donation will be added to contributions from other partners such as the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP), which will finance $10 million, and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), which will contribute $11 million. The Government of Haiti will finance $1 million to cover recurrent costs.