Haiti - Agriculture : Rehabilitation of irrigation channel in Nan Valette
Nearly 500 hectares of land will be irrigated through the concrete work of an irrigation channel of 800 linear meters. Launched July 15, 2013 in Grande-Saline, in the Artibonite, these works amounting nearly 24,000 U.S. dollars, are funded by the Minustah within the framework of its quick-impact Project (QIPs). The Initiative for environmental protection and youth mentoring (IPEEJ), a community organization of the community, is responsible for implementation and should be completed in less than 3 months.
Grande-Saline, predominantly agricultural area, is located on the north shore of the Artibonite River that feeds many irrigation canals. The rehabilitation of this channel is for nearly 1,500 farmers and cultivators, an important tool. "Because of alluvium and herbs, this channel was not used anymore. Even in the rainy season, our fields couldn't be irrigated because water does not circulate," explains Eliana Saintilus, farmer, stressing the need to install a pump on the river, for a better performance. "The channel is higher than the river, the latter can not supply it during drought."
For Roméus Wilson, the Director of the Town Hall, this channel will not only serve the farmers, but also the people of Nan Valette by allowing the evacuation of rainwater into unmanned marshes, reducing the risk of frequent flooding in this same region.
