The Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development (MARNDR) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have signed a Technical Cooperation Project aimed at strengthen the Ministry's technical assistance services in the South Department in agroforestry production.

This pilot project, worth US $200,000, targets 600 farm households in the 4 sections of the commune of Saint Jean du Sud, which will be supported in setting up agroforestry production systems allowing them to increase by sustainable way their livelihoods.

Carmel André Béliard, the Minister of Agriculture, believes that this pilot project will revitalize the agroforestry system, first in the commune of Saint Jean du Sud and wants to extend it in the South epartment once the available resources explaining "The implementation of this project focused particularly on the production of coconut trees, is a key issue for my department, when we know the economic and gastronomic importance of this crop for the country. We plan to establish nurseries for the production of coconut seedlings, as well as other agroforestry seedlings, as part of this project."

Dr. Nathanael Hishamunda, FAO Representative, mae declared This is one of the initiatives through which FAO intends to renew its support to the Government of Haiti to rehabilitate productive systems in the country with an approach promoting sustainable agriculture and natural resource management. We hope that this US $ 200,000 funding from FAO's own funds will lead to the development of a viable and sustainable agroforestry program in the South Department."

This project, which is part of the Ministry's Post-Matthew Response Plan, will be implemented through a tripartite partnership involving MARNDR, FAO and the Cuban Government to provide technical assistance in South-South cooperation. . The Department of Forestry Resources and Soils of the Ministry will be responsible for supervision and technical monitoring in collaboration with the Departmental Department of Agriculture South, the Agricultural Office of Saint Jean du Sud and FAO.

HL/ HaïtiLibre