In its latest report (23 November 2016), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) reports that local food production and livelihoods in Grand'Anse and South departments have been destroyed by the passage of Hurricane Matthew on Haiti on 4 October and the hardest hit areas have seen 100% of their crops damaged.

"While most of the country relies on subsistence production to meet food needs, restoring agriculture and livelihoods from fishing is essential to avoid dependence on food aid in months ahead," FAO said in its report.

For the first three-month emergency response phase, FAO intends to mobilize US$9 million to provide agricultural assistance in the sectors of : agriculture, livestock and fisheries of 60,000 households (rehabilitation of agricultural infrastructure, distribution of seeds, agricultural implements, veterinary assistance, technical assistance in nutrition) aimed at rehabilitating agricultural infrastructure and livelihoods and improving the food security of the affected rural communities.

However, less than 40% of the $ 9 million required by FAO for Haiti has been received so far (US$1,876,000 has already been secured, including $876,000 from the Central Emergency Response Fund), $500,000 from the Belgian Cooperation and $ 500,000 from FAO's own funds. This lack of funding hampers the Agency's efforts to provide immediate assistance.

For the winter agricultural season, FAO supports 25,850 farm households in four highly affected departments, 4,500 of them in the Grand'Anse (Communes : Jérémie, Moron, Dame Marie), 11,850 in the South (Communes : Les Anglais, Port à Piment, Chardonnières, Cayes, Chantale, Camperin, Cavaillon), 6,000 in the South East (Communes : Thiotte, Belle Anse, Anse à Pitres), 2,000 in the North West Communes : Baie de Henne, Jean Rabel) and 1,500 in the Artibonite (Communes : Ennery, Anse Rouge, Terre Neuve).

In the coming days, FAO, together with the Ministry of Agriculture, will strengthen the distribution of seeds and agricultural tools in order to support farmers and enable them to benefit from the winter agricultural campaign, while conducting seed fairs in different parts of the country that will enable producers to access seeds of early varieties that are resilient to climate change.

At the same time, FAO developed a 12-month response plan requesting $30 million to help 600,000 people with severe food insecurity. To date, it has received only $ 1.5 million, or only 5% of the required funding.

HL/ HaitiLibre