One of Haiti’s greatest challenges is the deeply entrenched hunger and poverty that affects half of its population, or close to six million people. This crisis spans generations and calls for an inclusive and lasting solution as the country’s ability to reach its full potential depends on it.
According to the World Bank, poverty in Haiti affects 20% of the urban population and 70% of the rural population. Most rural families are food producers. Partnering with them and investing in them is to help them grow a much greater quantity of fresh and affordable food, while ensuring farmers’ higher profits.
Smallholder Farmers’ crucial role in Haiti’s progress:
- More than 95% of all farmers in Haiti are smallholders.
- The agricultural sector employs 60% of the workforce.
- The labor of smallholder farmers contributes 20% of the country’s GDP – even though most live in dire poverty.
While Port-au-Prince and the surrounding region suffer incredible harm due to gang violence, other regions of Haiti have been able to repel gang occupation. This is an opportunity to help these free regions to grow and solidify their existing achievements and assets.
Our strategy is to support Haitian smallholder farmers in their quest to feed Haiti, and in the process help them lift themselves out of poverty. If 70% of the rural population living in poverty today can earn a living wage and produce more food, that would considerably reduce the country’s hunger and poverty.
To build a resilient and profitable food system requires a basket of interrelated initiatives: build a vibrant agro-economy, and reinforce it with environmental regeneration, climate change adaptation, women’s equity, children’s education, healthcare, regional capital formation, and programs to support young professionals.
This holistic approach is necessary to achieve lasting results that benefit the entire regional value and supply chain from growing crops to reaching consumers’ tables.
Digital technology ushers in a new era of opportunities for smallholder farmers: it exponentially increases their ability to collect data to base their planning and decisions on facts, vertically integrates their value and supply chain which will increase their profits, creates proof of assets which are potential collaterals, and facilitates direct relationships with international buyers which expands export markets and produces higher earnings.
Since Haiti is vulnerable to natural disasters, when necessary, EWI responds to catastrophes such as earthquakes and floods.
EWI builds cross-sectoral partnerships among local nonprofits, institutions, and businesses to contribute to regional growth. Powerful regions advance decentralization, which is vital to the country’s growth and resilience.