Submitted by Fabiola (not verified) on Sun, 07/20/2008 - 16:47.
In a country where the cost of staple foods as risen to about 50% since last year while 3/4 of its population lives on less than $2 a day, the long term solution to Haiti’s food crisis relies on food security and sustainable development. While most certainly welcomed and appreciated by Haiti’s residents, the food drives are only just a quick fix to a severe problem exacerbated by rising fuel costs, increased food demand, and U.S. subsidized rice that proved to be disastrous for Haiti’s small farmers and thereby resulted in a drastic decrease in local rice production. Ultimately, breaking the cycle of hunger will need more than just food aid to the country and will require investment in Haiti’s farming sector to work towards sustainable development.
For instance, The Lambi Fund of Haiti adopts and finances agricultural and environmental projects in Haiti to encourage national production and address the severe problem of hunger. They participate in community micro-credit funding, animal breeding projects, irrigation pumps for quality water supply, and a reforestation movement that incorporates tree planting, tree nurseries, and agro forestry practices. These types of projects work towards social and economical empowerment of the Haitian people while ultimately working towards establishing food security.
The Answer to Haiti’s Food Crisis is Food Security.
In a country where the cost of staple foods as risen to about 50% since last year while 3/4 of its population lives on less than $2 a day, the long term solution to Haiti’s food crisis relies on food security and sustainable development. While most certainly welcomed and appreciated by Haiti’s residents, the food drives are only just a quick fix to a severe problem exacerbated by rising fuel costs, increased food demand, and U.S. subsidized rice that proved to be disastrous for Haiti’s small farmers and thereby resulted in a drastic decrease in local rice production. Ultimately, breaking the cycle of hunger will need more than just food aid to the country and will require investment in Haiti’s farming sector to work towards sustainable development.
For instance, The Lambi Fund of Haiti adopts and finances agricultural and environmental projects in Haiti to encourage national production and address the severe problem of hunger. They participate in community micro-credit funding, animal breeding projects, irrigation pumps for quality water supply, and a reforestation movement that incorporates tree planting, tree nurseries, and agro forestry practices. These types of projects work towards social and economical empowerment of the Haitian people while ultimately working towards establishing food security.