The Secretary of State for Animal Production of Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development (MARNDR), held last week at the premises of the Ministry, a preparatory workshop for the establishment of a national system of Livestock Identification and Control of Slaughter.

In Haiti, livestock is the central pillar of farms. According to the MARNDR, 80% of family farms have a total of 5 million poultries ; 65% of the exploitations have goats (2.5 million goats), 55% have cattle (1.3 million cattle of which approximately 45% of adult cows) and 35% have a total of nearly 1 million pigs. Production and marketing of beef alone, constitutes in terms of economic exchange, the first or second agricultural activity in the country, estimated at about 180 million U.S. dollars.

However, the livestock sector faces many constraints and requires profound changes, which involve the training of farmers, the modernization of farming practices, the improvement of hygiene and preventive and curative veterinary care.

In this perspective, the MARNDR in consultation with the Ministries of Justice and the Interior held since April 2011, a series of national and regional meetings during which, the actors from different backgrounds (representatives of relevant ministries, CASECS, groups of farmers, PNH, NGOs, etc...), met to discuss the issue of the security of cattle and of agricultural goods. Let us note the lack of control of animal movement and a poor organization of the slaughter, due in part to the lack of a sanitary inspection system.

To help it fulfill its responsibilities in immunization, disease surveillance and animal health, the Ministry of Agriculture has set up Communal Committees for Animal Health and of GSB (Gwoupman Sante Bèt) in nearly 80% of the 570 communal sections. These Committees Communal and GSB are omposed of peasants farmers, representatives of farmer associations, community workers, veterinarians [about 1,500 Veterinary officers non-civil servants] and local government officials (mayors, CASECS).

Moreover, the system of slaughtering animals is poor. Since the closure of HAMPCO (Haitian. American Meat Production Company) in the early 80s, the country has no industrial slaughterhouse and the veterinary inspection of animals, is practically not done.

Results expected by the organizers :

• Decrease of over 90% the number of cases of cattle theft and minimize the number of illegal slaughter ;

• Consolidate the title of the farmer on his animal and obtain a more reliable estimate of animal populations in the country, concerned with the identification system ;

• Have a better updated knowledge, of the health status through the veterinary inspection and the marketing of meat of good quality through the veterinary inspection ;

• Strengthen animal vaccination and epidemiological surveillance of major animal diseases.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-6130-jacmel-health-the-slaughterhouse-of-the-city-of-jacmel-a-real-scandal.html

HL/ HaitiLibre