In response to the challenges faced by the Grand'Anse fishermen's associations since Hurricane Matthew, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Ministry of Agriculture Natural Resources and Rural Development (MARNDR), through the Agricultural Departmental Directorate of Grand'Anse, implement the Project "Protection, rehabilitation and diversification of livelihoods of people affected by the hurricane Matthew in Haiti" targeting 12,000 rural households (60,000 people) of the South, whose 1,250 fishermen of the Department of Grand'Anse.

In addition to the commune of Roseaux, FAO and the Ministry of Agriculture are targeting 7 others communes in Grand'Anse as part of this initiative, which aims to equip fishing groups with equipment such as nylon lines, hooks, engines and Fish Concentration Devices (FADs).

The mayor of the commune of Roseaux, Olin Jean Richard, thanked FAO and the Ministry for this initiative aimed at helping households living of fishery in the rehabilitation of their livelihoods "Following Hurricane Matthew, various materials inluding FADs have been destroyed. Moreover, alluvial deposits deposited in the sea following the floods caused by Matthew, made it difficult to fish on the coast. I am relieved by this distribution, which takes place before the beginning of the school year, will allow the fishermen to resume their activities," advocating the establishment of stores of fishing equipment and cold stores for the conservation of fish.

Gilot Ichmith, President of the Association des Fishermen of Roseaux, who greatly thanks FAO and the Ministry for these distributions, expressed satisfaction with the importance of such an initiative and the significant benefits it will bring to the community.

Apart from the distribution of fishing gear and equipment, the project also intends to strengthen the fishermen's capacities on the use, management and maintenance of these materials.

HL/ HaitiLibre