The agronomist Thomas Jacques, Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development at the recent presentation of a study conducted in the country by the experts from the Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD) on cocoa sector, stressed the need for a change in the mode of production of cocoa, with technical and technological innovations to improve the poor Yields per hectare of this carrier sector in Haiti.

In his speech the Minister stated before include representatives of international cooperation, exporters and representatives of support NGOs and cooperatives of peasant producers "Annual exports of cocoa are around 450 million gourdes. What globally represents 25% of total exports of primary products in the country. The sector generates thousands of jobs and plays a major role in the conservation management of water, soil and biodiversity of the country in general.

However, the local potential in this sector is largely unexploited. Under the combined effects of several factors the national production is about 5,000 tonnes currently. Yields per hectare on average 250 kg, while some of our neighbors get up to 3,000 kg with the almost similar agro-ecological conditions to ours.

That is why the Ministry of Agriculture made ​​this sector a priority in its plan of recovery of the agricultural sector. We need a gradual change in our production model. It takes technological and technical innovations to make more efficient this model so that all trades in the industry get more satisfactory income and stimulators."

Encouraging all national stakeholders (exporters, cooperatives, entrepreneurs, individual producers, coaching institutions etc...) as well as actors of international cooperation, to join the Ministry for this essential technical and technological jump.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-11221-haiti-agriculture-towards-a-farmers-private-sector-partnership-in-the-cocoa-and-coffee-sectors.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-9779-haiti-agriculture-the-haitian-cocoa-recognized-as-one-of-the-best-in-the-world.html

HL/ TB/ HaitiLibre