Abstract
Food security is a continuing challenge in Haiti. The demand for food far exceeds local supply. As a result, Haiti imports nearly 50% of its national food needs. Postharvest management is an often neglected link in the grain value chain that has potential to improve food availability. We interviewed 214 farmers in three departments in July–August 2017 to assess postharvest handling and storage of grains and gender roles in Haiti. Results showed that among the respondents: 64% were male; 55% were over the age of 40 years; and about half had attended secondary school. Maize and beans were the most grown and stored crops. The average production for maize and beans was 288 kg and 88 kg, respectively. About 75% of the respondents stored less than 100 kg of either crop. Rodents and insects were the main causes of loss during storage. Farmers who produced more grain, stored longer, and experienced losses during drying and seed storage were more likely to use insecticides on stored products. Postharvest management practices were gendered at the lower end of the value chain; where women played a key role in marketing the grain. Addressing postharvest management challenges, through targeted interventions, to increase food availability while investing in maize and bean production can improve food security in Haiti.
Highlights
Food insecurity has been a continuing challenge in Haiti [1]
This study showed that smallholder farmers in Haiti rely heavily on agriculture for their livelihoods
Investment in Haiti‘s smallholder farmers and the agricultural sector in general is vital to building food security
Summary
Food insecurity has been a continuing challenge in Haiti [1]. The situation was exacerbated by a 2010 earthquake, longstanding drought, floods, landslides and the devastating 2016 category 4 Hurricane Matthew that severely affected two million people in Haiti [1]. Other drivers of food insecurity are poor performance of the agricultural sector that leads to heavy dependence on food imports [2]. Haiti’s food and nutrition requirements are ensured mainly through imports for a wide variety of goods including cereals, pulses and edible oils [3]. Staple crops produced in Haiti are maize, wheat, sorghum, beans, peas, yams, cassava, sweet potatoes, bananas and plantains [3]. In Haiti, crop production is extremely vulnerable to the adverse effects of climatic events and shocks such as insufficient rainfall, hurricanes, flooding, and droughts [4]
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