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Food System in Haiti

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Haitian agriculture has a lot of potentials. L’ester Artibonite, Copyright © Ruth Climat ENDING HUNGER NOW AN ANALYSIS OF THE CHALLENGES FACING THE FOOD SYSTEM IN HAITI Report written by Julie Cayeux, Jean-Cyril Dagorn and Peggy Pascal (Action Against Hunger) based on a report by Jean-Denis Crola (6-pm) ENDING HUNGER NOW TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 4 1.- A FAILING AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM FACING INCREASING CHALLENGES 5 1.1.- HUNGER IN HAITI 5 1.2.- A POPULATION EXPLOSION AND CHANGES IN DIET LEAFING TO INCREASED 5 RISK OF MALNUTRITION 1.3.- INCREASES IN UNPREDICTABLE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE PLACING THE 6 AGRICULTURAL SECTOR AND POPULATIONS AT RISK 1.4.- A STRATEGY OF RADICALLY DEREGULATING TRADE AND IMPORTING LOW 7 COST FOODSTUFFS, WHILE FOCUSING THE ECONOMY ON A FEW EXPORT SECTORS 1.5.- CONTROL OVER IMPORTS CONCENTRATED IN A FEW HANDS 8 1.6.- WEAK PUBLIC INVESTMENT IN AGRICULTURE 8 1.7.- AGRICULTURAL POLICY FAVOURING GROWTH POLES AT THE EXPENSE OF 9 FAMILY FARMING 1.7.1- PUBLIC FUNDING PRIMARILY DELIVERED THROUGH A VARIETY OF DISPARATE PROJECTS 10 2.- OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP THE FUTURE OF FOOD IN 12 HAITI 2.1.- SUPPORT LOCAL AGRICULTURE, WHICH CONTINUES TO PROVIDE FOOD FOR 12 THE MAJORITY OF HAITIANS 2.2.- REINFORCE THE LINK BETWEEN LOCAL AGRICULTURE AND FOOD PROCESSING 13 2.3.- EXPLORE THE OPPORTUNITIES PROVIDED BY THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A 14 CARICOM COMMON EXTERNAL TARIFF 2.4.- USE HUMANITARIAN AID TO THE BENEFIT OF AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT 15 2.5.- THE NATIONAL SCHOOL CANTEEN PROGRAMME, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR 16 HAITIAN AGRICULTURE 3.- RECOMMENDATIONS 18 2 An analysis of the challenges facing the food system in Haiti ENDING HUNGER NOW LISTS OF FIGURES TABLE 1: AMERICAN RICE GROWERS: THE MAIN BENEFICIARIES OF HAITI’S RICE TRADE POLICY TABLE 2: HAITI’S MAJOR IMPORT MARKETS TABLE 3: PROPORTION OF THE AGRICULTURAL BUDGET IN THE STATE BUDGET BETWEEN 2005 AND 2014 TABLE 4: POLICY FRAMEWORKS ON THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR DEVELOPED SINCE 2010, OR UNDER DEVELOPMENT TABLE 5: PARTNER DEVELOPMENT FUNDING IN THE MARNDR PUBLIC INVESTMENT PROGRAMME (PIP) FOR THE 2016/17 FINANCIAL YEAR TABLE 6: COMPARISON OF THE BOUND RATES PROMISED TO THE WTO AND THE RATES ACTUALLY APPLIED TABLE 7: COMPARISON OF THE MAIN APPROACHES ON THE GROUND An analysis of the challenges facing the food system in Haiti 3 ENDING HUNGER NOW INTRODUCTION aiti faces extensive structural food In 2017, Action Against Hunger conducted and nutritional insecurity, in part independent research into the state of Hdue to the high levels of extreme the country’s food system. This study, poverty affecting a quarter of its population. jointly published by the Papaye Peasant According to an evaluation by the National Movement (MPP) and Action Against Food Security Coordination Unit (CNSA)1, 3.3 Hunger, is designed to shed further light million people in rural areas (56% of the total on the agricultural system in Haiti by rural population) are struggling to maintain asking the following question: who feeds their livelihoods and being forced to sell the Haitians? Its aim is to provide a basic assets, pushing them into a vicious cycle of analysis of Haitian food market supply poverty. sources and the principle stakeholders and frameworks (political, regulatory According to the World Bank, in 2012, 59% and budgetary) underpinning Haitian of Haitians were living under the poverty line agriculture. This analysis gives rise to a (with less than $2.42 per day2). Haiti’s food series of recommendations, aimed restoring insecurity results chiefly from the political national agricultural production to its central decisions of the last forty years, which have place in the Haitian food system. Haitian not only radically altered food production agriculture is capable of providing food for and supply, but also the eating habits of the population and significantly improving the population. While Haitian agriculture the country’s food security. The report also provided the bulk of the country’s food in the sheds light on recent political decisions 1980s, Haitians now import more than half of relating to food production and supply and their total foodstuffs, making them extremely their severe impact on the poorest sections vulnerable to upheavals and crashes in the of the population. global market. Detailed evaluation of the impact of the hurricane on food security using the Households Economic Approach in the country’s eight (8) livelihood zones, CNSA, May 2017 According to the latest household survey (ECVMAS 2012) cited in the 2012 World Bank report more than 6 million (59%) Haitians live below the national poverty line of $2.42 per day. More than 2.5 million (24%) Haitians live below the national extreme poverty line of $1.23$ per day. 4 An analysis of the challenges facing the food system in Haiti ENDING HUNGER NOW 1.- A FAILING AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM FACING INCREASING CHALLENGES which is rapidly losing its labour force. 1.1.- HUNGER IN HAITI The mass exodus towards urban Haiti suffers from the highest income centres also results from the increased inequality of almost any country. Its GINI difficulty maintaining livelihoods due coefficient, a measure of income inequality, is to significant degradation of natural 60.81, placing Haiti second last in the global resources (soils in particular) and the ranking (just above South Africa). More than impact of climate change, which is threatening the sustainability of Haiti’s 15% of the Haitian population cannot obtain 3 enough food to live an active, healthy life.2 major crops in the lead up to 2050 . This figure reaches catastrophic highs during crisis periods, such as droughts, floods and Haitian agriculture is therefore facing cyclones (like the recent hurricane Mathew). both rising and changing food demand. Although levels of malnutrition are set to Population growth and the changes in fall slightly over the long term, they are still dietary habits linked to urbanisation a major cause for concern. In 2016, chronic and mass importation of processed malnutrition affected 23.5% of children, foods, all influence food demand. with 6.9% suffering from acute malnutrition. At the same time, the loss of arable Furthermore, huge disparities exist within the land due to uncontrolled urbanisation population: chronic malnutrition is seven times reduces the country’s ability to higher among children in the poorest quintile3. increase agricultural output. 1.2.- A POPULATION EXPLOSION AND CHANGES IN DIET LEAFING TO INCREASED RISK OF MALNUTRITION The Haitian population has doubled since 1980, with the majority of people living in cities. Between 1970 and 2015, the urban population multiplied by 7, while the rural population grew 1.2 times1. More than half of Haiti’s 10.9 million strong population live in Port-au-Prince or one of the country’s secondary cities2. Coupled with increasing urbanisation, population growth places significant stress on the agricultural sector, https://donnees.banquemondiale.org/indicateur/SI.POV.GINI?locations=HT The Haitian Department for National Education and Vocational Training (MENFP), 2016, “National policy and strategy for nutrition in schools (PSNAS)” The Haitian Department for Public Health and Population (MSPP), SMART 2016; MSPP: Mortality, morbidity and service use survey - EMMUS-IV, 2007” and MSPP, “EMMUS-V. 2012,2013”, quoted in PSNAS 2016 CIRAD/IDB 2016, “An exhaustive strategic study of the rural/agricultural sector in Haiti and the public investment required for its development”, “Introduction”. Haitian Institute for Statistics and Information Technology (IHSI) 2015: http://www.ihsi.ht/pdf/projection/Estimat_PopTotal_18ans_Menag2015.pdf. Accessed February, 2017. Estimation the cost of the impact of climate change in Haiti. UNDP 2015 An analysis of the challenges facing the food system in Haiti 5 ENDING HUNGER NOW 1.3.- INCREASES IN UNPREDICTABLE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE PLACING THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR AND POPULATIONS AT RISK Soli degradation is limiting food production in Haiti. Trois rivieres, Port-de-Paix, Copyright © Ruth Climat Haiti is highly vulnerable to natural disasters The frequency of violent weather (floods, droughts, cyclones and earthquakes), events (earthquakes, floods, droughts, which have heavy consequences for the landslides and tropical storms) has tragic agricultural sector and livelihoods in rural consequences for Haitian’s food security, areas. Since the 1950s, the country has including displaced populations, damaged experienced more than twenty deadly, infrastructure, disrupted markets and loss devastating tropical storms, resulting in losses of crops and livestock. Haiti’s population and damage now that form and enduring has been suffering from widespread part of the agricultural sector’s problems1. food insecurity in the wake of hurricane For example, the soil erosion caused by Mathew in 2016, which is set to continue intense rainfall results in an estimated beyond 2017 due to losses of food stocks, annual productivity loss of 0.5 to 1.2%2. In infrastructure and means of production. all probability, the agricultural sector will Food aid and support remain therefore continue to suffer from climate change in the essential and are especially crucial in the future. The projections for Haiti show a rise short-term in order to meet the needs of in temperature of 0.8°C to 1°C between now vulnerable populations affected by natural and 2030, combined with a loss in annual catastrophes. The massive influx of aid rainfall of between 6 and 20% and a shift in (more than 12 billion dollars over 5 years) the timing of the rainy season3. contrasts with the lack of commitment from donors to reconstructing a more resilient and equitable agricultural system. The Haitian Department for Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development (MARNDR) 2016, “Report - summary evaluation of the agricultural losses and damage caused by the recent Hurricane Mathew from October 3 to 5, 2016” National agricultural investment plan (PNIA) 2016-2021, November 2016 draft, citing figures in the Triennial agricultural recovery plan (PTRA) 2013- 2016 of the MARNDR.
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