By Carlene Deits | Project Leader
Over the past thirty years, Haiti’s forest cover has dramatically decreased and now represents less than two percent of the Haitian territory. 85% of the country’s watersheds are degraded. Erratic rainfall and a six month hurricane and tropical storm season lasting from June to November, leave families in Haiti vulnerable.
BUT, because of your continued support, Mercy Corps is right there to assist them. You are proactively protecting the land from soil erosion and improving crop productivity through agroforestry and soil conservation. You are stabilizing ravines and protecting roadways to ensure access to local markets. And you are continuing to provide agricultural and business training to local farmers, with access to diverse crops.
Your support has helped local farmers like Prosper Estivern (35) produce higher yields and obtain food security. Prosper worked with Mercy Corps in our first year in Haiti to build soil conservation structures in a garden where he previously planted only corn and beans. Now, he harvests sweet potatoes, yucca, sugar cane, plantains and papaya along with several different kinds of tree fruits from the same garden. He received a loan for the outstanding work he has done to keep the soil conservation on his land well maintained.
During visits to the field, we hear positive feedback from communities regarding the difference between the gardens that were protected with soil conservation structures and those that were not. The superior health of the plants in the conserved gardens is noted by many farmers and has solidified some new believers on the importance of soil conservation.
In Sibas, the crowning glory of the conservation work from the communities’ perspective is after last year's heavy rain, when a major ravine cut off their route to Montrouis (their major market outlet), the road was still in perfect shape after four days of heavy rain.
Thank you for your ongoing compassion for families in Haiti and all that you do to help farmers thrive in one of the world's toughest places.
With Gratitude,
Carlene Deits
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