The bean producers of Maïssade commune (Dept. Center, Hinche district) are being harvested. The first estimates are rather positive. If the expected yield was not achieved, the farmers we met still assured that the harvest is much better than the 2017 winter season.

They explain that these results were made possible thanks to the help of the Ministry of Agriculture via the project of Strengthening agricultural public services which is financed by the World Bank.

Assistance that has been translated on many levels. During this campaign, farmers received four vouchers for : plowing, buying seeds, paying for phytosanitary services and a supervisor.

Odette Baptiste, a beneficiary of the project, says that the yield has improved significantly, she hopes to harvest more than 200 bean pots (marmites), which she says, a record yield for her small plot.

Carole Jean, a producer in the first Savannah Grann section, explained that the Ministry's support has been beneficial, noting that new farming practices have been promoted and farmers are now better able to prepare their plots. Now they know that the spacing between the holes (pockets) should not be less than 25 cm and you should not put more than two grains per hole.

Following this rather successful campaign, the beneficiaries hope for a second phase of the project, a request to which the project coordinator intends to make a positive follow-up according to the agronomist Anès Ranfort, the project representative, who ensures that the project will continue to support the growers in this area during the spring campaign. He recalled that for this campaign 48.5 tons of beans was given to 1.706 farmers which allowed to develop 954 hectares in the commune of Maïssade.

It is also a question of making water available to a larger number of producers and to promote the development of a larger area to contribute to a significant increase in production in the Center department. Anès Ranfort recalls that water is the main limiting factor of agriculture in this commune. For the last campaign 107 motor pumps were distributed. This operation will continue for the big campaign. The project coordinator talks about 70 new pumps that will be made available to farmers.

HL/ HaitiLibre