Haiti - Agriculture : Inauguration of a new seed center in Torbeck
Saturday, October 31 in Torbeck, President Jovenel Moïse, accompanied by his wife Martine and the Ambassador of Taiwan (Republic of China) Wen Jiann KU, in the presence of several Ministers and officials of the South Department, inaugurated the Seed Center of Torbeck with an annual capacity of 3,000 tons of rice seeds.
This ultra-modern seed center, using computers for grain analysis, is one of three built in the country under the Moïse government after that of Ferrière (North-East) with an annual capacity of 5,000 tons and that of Dezo (Artibonite) with an annual capacity of 12,000 tons of seeds. These centers are a response to poor quality seeds and seeds that did not match what growers were used to.
Moïse pointed out that in 2017, the country had a production capacity of only 2,000 tons of rice seeds, in the former Dezo Center (Artibonite), where there was a lot of waste due to materials that was not really adapted to 21st century technology, pointing out that 3 years later Haiti now has an annual production capacity of 20,000 tonnes.
The Head of State recalled the major works he is carrying out across the country with a view to reviving agriculture, citing, among other things : producing quality rice seeds accessible to producers; increase the capacity of rice farmers; make credit available through the National Bank for Agricultural Development; promote and support production blocks: install solar pumps across the country to irrigate fields, provide electricity to facilitate the conservation and processing of agricultural products, etc...
