Haiti - Agriculture : $7.75M from the World Bank to strengthen the agricultural sector in the country
Thursday, November 19, the Board of Directors of the World Bank approved additional funding in the amount of $7.75 million for the project "Resilient Productive Territories in Haiti" which aims to encourage the adoption of agricultural practices and more resilient land use planning.
"The World Bank continues to support agricultural production in Haiti during the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic," said Anabela Abreu, Country Director of the World Bank in Haiti adding "This funding plays an important role in improving livelihoods in the agricultural sector by contributing to increased productivity and better access to markets. The project will also help strengthen the long-term sustainability of the agricultural sector by helping it adapt to climate change."
Note that the agricultural sector covers up to 45% of Haiti's food needs and is the main source of income for the rural population. However, production still depends largely on rainfall, and most farmers have limited access to inputs, knowledge or credit. Improving the productivity and resilience of the Haitian agricultural sector requires an integrated approach that respects the environment while promoting higher yields. The funding approved today will improve land management and farming practices, as well as market access for farmers. It will also strengthen the capacity of the Haitian government to provide a rapid and effective response to disasters.
Recall that the project "Resilient productive territories in Haiti" was approved in March 2018 through a donation of 15 million dollars from the International Development Association (IDA) and funding of 6.21 million dollars from the Global Fund. for the environment (GEF).
In April 2020, the activation of the Conditional Emergency Response Component (CERC) released $9.9 million to strengthen food security during the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, these funds have made it possible to support 12,874 farmers in the departments of Nippes and the South and to provide agricultural and technical assistance to sow more than 8,700 hectares of arable land.
