Programs

The Farmer Extensionist training program is one of the pillars of FONHDAD’s extension program alongside SMS extension, local supervision, field visits, demonstration plots, etc. The market-led extension program encompasses 5 components:

1. Training of master farmers program.
   The master farmers training follows a training of trainer model in which, based on predefined criteria, some farmers, members of partners organizations, are selected to participate in a formal training program and gain core technical competencies related to agricultural and livestock production, and commercialization. This training, carried out over a period of 21 to 28 days, is contains seven (7) to eight (8) modules depending on the specialization. The following core courses are taught: (1) General Agriculture, (2) Environmental Management and Climate Change, (3) Family Planning, (4) Smallholder Farm Management, (5) IPM. (6) Cereal production techniques; (7) vegetable production techniques, (8) Livestock production techniques. Farmers have the opportunity to specialize in cereal production techniques, vegetable production techniques, soil conservation, integrated pest management (IPM).
2. Installation of demonstration plots.
   Installing demonstration plots in rural areas represents an important pillar of the agricultural extension program led by the Foundation, specifically through the Bas Boën CRDD. Every year, throughout the implementation of the agricultural campaigns, FONHDAD, in collaboration with farmers’ organizations put in place 10-30 demonstration plots to showcase the combined effect of improved quality seeds along with improved agricultural practices. For each crop, a technical package was designed. While the Foundation provides trainings and inputs to set up the demonstration plots, most of the management activities of the plots fall on the responsibilities of small farmers or participating farmers’ organizations. The demonstration plots are selected based on their accessibility, proximity to a road, access to irrigation water, and slope less than 5%. The demonstration plots serve the benchmark to teach farmers new skills and techniques. Agronomists and master farmers use the demonstration plots to teach smallholder farmers new techniques or conduct observations at each stage of growth of the plant.
   

   Demonstration plots installed at the Bas Boën CRDD

3. Technical assistance to smallholder farmers.
   FONHDAD offers a bundle of services smallholder farmers through advisory services, linkage to inputs suppliers, land preparation services, access to improved technologies. The advisory services to smallholder farmers are provided by trained agronomists and master farmers using technical packages developed on purpose for each crop. Advisory services are supported by field visits around demonstration plots, video projections, posters, SMS, and meeting exchange between farmers.  Famers are able to tell others about their successes and observations. When needed, specific incentives such as in-kind credit for inputs were developed to facilitate farmers access to technologies.
4. Digital agricultural extension.
   Thanks to the support of its partners, FONHDAD has offered a bundle of digital extension services including SMS system extension, videos, online conferences to smallholder farmers. The SMS-based agriculture extension system consists of sending tailored technical messages to farmers during specific production period. This extension system has been a key information delivery mechanism for the extension system. It is supported by a database containing information (type of crops, location of the farmers, land size, planting period) regarding each farmer involved in the agricultural campaigns. The SMS include not only technical information regarding the production process, but also market information. The SMS system extension reached more than 10 000 people. This strategy enables farmers to make decision regarding the use of agricultural practices and technologies, and the selection of the most lucrative market to sell their products.
5. Market linkages and private sector partnership.
   FONHDAD believes the increase of agricultural productivity needs to align specific market. FONHDAD has continuously tried to connect smallholder farmers with commercial and institutional buyers when local market conditions allow us to do so. For instance, the Foundation is working farmers organizations to provide SOTRAPAL (Société de Transformation de Produits Agricoles), a private company, with quality inputs (corn, beans, sorghum, and roots). Currently, SOTRAPAL has a capacity to process 20 TM/day, but hardly can find the inputs on the local market.  In the same vein, FONHDAD and CEYBA are in talks with Jus Mama, a French based company, to connect smallholder farmers with them to purchase ginger, pineapple, and other crops for processing.).

Haiti, a Caribbean nation located on the western portion of the island of Hispaniola, has been grappling with numerous challenges for decades. Among these challenges, food insecurity stands out as a pressing issue that affects a significant portion of the population. More than half of the Haitian population lacks consistent access to sufficient, nutritious food for an active and healthy life. This issue is rooted in a combination of factors, including extreme poverty, political instability, environmental degradation, and vulnerability to natural disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes. According to the United Nations, approximately 4.9 million people in Haiti – nearly half of the country’s population – are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity, with a significant number experiencing severe hunger.

FONHDAD, with the support of its partners, has been working tirelessly to combat food insecurity in Haiti. Various initiatives aiming at improving agricultural practices, promoting sustainable farming techniques, and enhancing food production and distribution systems have designed and implemented by the Foundation to tackle food insecurity and its detrimental effects of Haitian communities. These efforts focus on empowering local farmers, improving access to markets, and supporting community-led initiatives to ensure long-term food security.

Moreover, programs have been implemented to enhance the resilience of vulnerable populations, such as women and children, who are disproportionately affected by food insecurity. These programs include nutrition education and the establishment of community gardens. Additionally, initiatives have been undertaken to diversify agricultural production, encourage agroforestry, promote climate-smart farming practices to mitigate the impact of climate change on food security, and foster resilience among vulnerable populations. FONHDAD believes that, by combining these strategies with long-term investments and developing quality partnerships with local and international NGOs and the Haitian government, it is possible to build a more resilient Haiti and a brilliant future for vulnerable communities.

Haiti faces significant challenges when it comes to seed insecurity. Smallholder farmers in Haiti often struggle to access high-quality seeds due to limited availability and affordability. The majority of farmers rely on informal seed systems, saving seeds from their previous harvests. This practice can lead to decreased crop yields over time due to the loss of genetic diversity and the accumulation of pests and diseases. Moreover, when natural disasters, such as hurricanes, floods hit, these events can destroy seed stocks, agricultural infrastructure, and farmland, leading to further seed insecurity. As a result, farmers lose their seed reserves, and are unable to replant their fields and sustain their livelihoods. Furthermore, insufficient infrastructure for seed production, storage, and distribution and the weakness of the Agricultural Extension Services negatively impact seed quality and overall agricultural productivity.

To address seed insecurity and promoting sustainable agriculture in Haiti, FONHDAD has adopted a multi-faceted approach combining (1) strengthening Seed Systems, (2) Improving access to quality seeds, (3) Agricultural Extension Services, (4) applied research, (5) Public-Private Partnerships. For instance, before the creation of the CRDD of Bas Boën in 2011, 74% farmers of the Plaine du Cul-de-Sac bought and used grains intended for consumption. The development of the seed multiplication program by the Centre Rural Développement Durable of Bas Boën meets the need of farmers to obtain quality seeds. FONHDAD has created and strengthened a network of seed producers through appropriate training, advisory services, technical support, and incentives through soil preparation, access to quality seeds, etc. Do you want to learn more about our program? Contact us!