According to the latest bulletin of the National Coordination for Food Security (CNSA) from July to December 2015, agricultural production for that period, will be below 50% compared to a normal year because of the considerable crop losses caused by drought in Haiti.

The most heavily affected areas are the South, the North West, Upper Artibonite, Southeast, Northeast and marginal urban areas of the country, especially the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince. Apart from those already in crisis (phase 3 of the IPC, characterized by significant food deficits), others will see their situation worsen to be either in crisis situation or stress (phase 2, an drastic reduction in food consumption).

The CNSA notes that the rainy season usually runs from March to November, started more than 40 days late in the North East, Artibonite and parts of the Southeast. The month of May usually one of the wettest, experienced rainfall deficits between 100 and 200 mm across almost the entire country. On average there was 300 mm deficit in areas of the departments of the South and Grand Anse, which ordinarily receive over 500 mm of rainfall between May and July.

With crop loss in many areas of the country, the poorest people are engaged in small trade with the use of micro-credit. However, income from these activities are insignificant given that the products are not diversified between merchants, what only expand the product rotation and reduce their income and therefore their purchasing power.

Moreover, the practice of fishing has been reduced because the sea was rough between May and June. Moreover, fishermen, for lack of equipment could not operate, which leads to a decrease in income in the household with the habit of using fishing.

Although several projects have been executed in some regions, efforts are not sufficient to change the situation in these zones of intervention. Response plans have been proposed for the southern departments, Southeast, Artibonite and Northwest, but the funds have not yet been collected to finance them.

CNSA said that 30% of the Haitian population, or 3 million people live in food insecurity, that is why the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), together with partners, continues multiply advocacy actions to encourage donors and partners to fund projects to come to support the most vulnerable Haitian people.

HL/ HaitiLibre