According to the National Coordination of Food Security (CNSA), before the passage of Sandy, the drought had caused nearly 80 million dollars of losses in the agricultural sector. Isaac in August caused in the same sector $70 million and the passage of Sandy adds $104 million of losses in this sector already very experienced.

n total and in the space of a few months the agricultural sector recorded in the country, a loss of over 254 million U.S. dollars.

Provisional data provided by the Departmental directors of agriculture, specify that 90,356,7 ha of plantation (corn, beans, sorghum, pigeon peas, pea strain, bananas, tubers, peanuts, vegetables, rice) were completely destroyed or severely ransacked by wind and water.

More than 64,000 animal heads (identified) were washed away (pigs, cattle, goats, sheep, horses, poultry). The estimated amount of lost animals by farmers is 133,088,349 gourdes (U.S. $1 = ± 42 Gdes).

2.500 km of farm road infrastructure, are damaged and affect car traffic and pedestrian, in the localities of departments of South-East, Nippes, Grand Anse, Central, South, North-East, Artibonite and Northwest.

The Haitian Government has already disbursed nearly $7 million of aid to respond to the initial needs.

Jacques Thomas, the Minister of Agriculture announced the adoption of measures to help farmers hit by Sandy. The Ministry intends lower the price of plowing and distribute seeds to farmers and support the farmers before the harvest of late November in order to allow to revive the production in the next three months and pass the "lean season" (période de soudure) between January and May 2013.

HL/ HaitiLibre