Haiti - Agriculture : Positive impact for the SFA Cooperative of Gonaïves
During the recent visit in Haiti, of the Agricultural Investment Delegation, led by former President Bill Clinton, the latter visited the tree nursery of the cooperative Smallholder Farmers Alliance (SFA) of Gonaïves. On this occasion, the Clinton Foundation, announced a $150,000 grant to the SFA. The grant will support SFA's efforts at growth, operations, and sustainability in Gonaives-including the planting and maintaining of 150,000 trees and improvements to nursery operations.
A contract was signed for the farmers in our Gonaives cooperative to sell up to 100 metric tons of sorghum to the Heineken/Brana brewery in Haiti by the end of 2013. We have partnered with them on a test plot where four different varieties of sorghum are being grown. The test plot is also be used to train farmers in techniques to increase sorghum yields.
Otherwise, the SFA Cooperative indicated that it has purchased its first tractor through Tractors for Haiti. Manufactured in China by Dong Feng, the unit was chosen because it is scaled for use on small farms. The cooperative is renting it to members for approximately $16 per hectare. That price includes the driver (who is also the mechanic), and a portion of the fee goes back to the cooperative. This marks the first time that any of the cooperative members have had access to a tractor.
