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Haiti earthquake not only devastated the capital cityhttp://shareweb/newsroom/news/pages/haiti_earthquake.aspx[2/15/2013 9:34:34 AM]Sign In EspañolContact UsSearch Advanced SearchAbout Us Research Plant Genetic Resources Climate Change Regions Publications Global Issues Newsroom CGIARHaiti earthquake not only devastated the capital city but weakened a long-neglected rural economyNew study documents earthquake's immediate impacts on farmers as well as chronic problems inagriculture that could slow economic recoveryAs the inhabitants of Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, continue to cope with the aftermath ofthe earthquake that shattered this city lastJanuary, as well as the new threat of a choleraendemic, the country's farmers, who make up60% of the total population, are also struggling toovercome not just the initial shock butlongstanding problems in a sorely neglected ruraleconomy, according to a study released today.The first of its kind in Haiti or anywhere else in the region, this research examined the effects of pastemergency seed aid and identified needs for strengthening seed systems in Haiti. It involved extensiveinterviews and discussions with about 1,000 farmers held at 10 diverse rural sites across the countryin May to June 2010. More than half a dozen organizations took part in the work, which was fundedby the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) of the United States Agency for InternationalDevelopment (USAID).Immediately after the earthquake, planting dropped by about 16% across crops and regions, the studyreports, mainly because farmers were short of cash for inputs. However, it was in the drought-stricken areas of the northwest that planting declined most steeply—by 36%—causing the rural poorto suffer acutely from the impact of the country’s worst earthquake in 200 years on top of pre-existing environmental adversity.Other effects of the earthquake, such as insecurity, limited supplies, scarce credit, and a lack ofclients, severely harmed rural cooperatives which reported a 90% reduction in their commercialactivity. These small-scale businesses are run primarily by women traders, referred to as "MadamesSaras", and they are critical for ensuring household food security and adequate child nutrition.However, more alarmingly, the study uncovered acute longstanding weaknesses in the country’sagriculture, which will impede economic recovery unless a major effort is undertaken to bolster farmproduction and the technical and other services on which agricultural growth depends."Most of the constraints we identified are deeply chronic," said Louise Sperling, a seed systems expertwith the Colombia-based International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT, its acronym in Spanish)and the study’s coordinator. "Farmers cannot obtain new crop varieties, other inputs, or regulartechnical advice."Only 14 % of farm households have gained access to any new crop variety over the last 5 years, andemergency distribution of seed in February and March accounted for half of this figure, according tothe study. This lack of innovation and access to new technologies can have stagnating effects onagricultural systems, making them highly unstable in the face of natural disasters like the Januaryearthquake.The study also revealed that farmers depend heavily on local markets, another inherent issue. Ratherthan save seed from their harvest for the next planting, Haitian farmers consume or sell most of thecrop and then buy about 75% of their seed locally at a cost of about US$60-70 per season—aformidable expense for those living on the poverty line."In other countries, when farmers eat or sell their own seed, this is usually taken as a signal that seedsystems are under stress, but in Haiti it’s the normal practice," Sperling said. "Furthermore, what they E-Newsletter: Challenges & InnovationsNews ReleasesBlogSeminarsCIAT Events CalendarOpen HouseResources for JournalistsnewsInternational workshop on Intellectual PropertyTest and market: Brachiaria apomictic hybridsChallenges & Innovations. E-Newsletter No. 8“CIAT’s experience in the Orinoquía will prove valuablein the transformation of this region”, says Colombia’sMinister of AgricultureScientists Mount a “Sting Operation” in Thailand toTackle a Devastating Pest OutbreakCIAT grieves death of benefactor400 delegates at International Rice Meeting in CaliFundaciat Holds its First Executive Council MeetingNew CGIAR Consortium CEO appointedCIAT present at the XI International Rice Conference forLatin America and the CaribbeanWorld Food Day and World Rural Women's Day at CIATJuan Lucas Restrepo, new Director of CorpoicaCIAT Director General  Receives International AwardWorkshop on intellectual propertyHaiti earthquake not only devastated the capital cityDaniel Debouck receives international awardNew, Most Comprehensive Program to Date Seeks toEnsureThe Ministry of Agriculture formalizes a CIAT–Corpoicaresearch partnership to confront climate change andreinvigorate the Colombian OrinoquíaWorld’s Top Cassava Researchers Meet to Address theCIAT helps African cassava "Bridegroom" find perfectmatchWorkshop to Plan the Seed Systems Training Initiativefor     Haiti earthquake not only devastated the capital cityhttp://shareweb/newsroom/news/pages/haiti_earthquake.aspx[2/15/2013 9:34:34 AM]buy each season is at a very high price so the cost of stagnation in agricultural systems is actuallycoming out of the pockets of Haiti’s rural poor."In terms of access to seeds, the results indicate that farmers had only minimal problems obtainingseed as a direct result of the earthquake and that perhaps the massive amounts of seed aid providedwas misdirected, as it only accounted for 4% of the seed sown between February and June."Haitian farmers are under a lot of stress," said Shaun McGuire of the University of East Anglia, whowas a partner in the study. "They have lost assets, and their production is highly vulnerable to ups anddowns in the weather and in household finances. But the availability of seed per se is not a problem."Two important exceptions to the generally fragile state of Haiti’s seed systems are the production ofirrigated rice and vegetables. Since both are handled on a more commercial basis, producers have themeans to obtain improved crop seed and other production inputs.The study also documented some of the broader livelihood impacts of the earthquake. Foodconsumption dropped steeply during the immediate aftermath of the earthquake—from an averageof 2.48 meals per day to 1.59, in half of the rural households surveyed. This resulted from the exodusof homeless urban people to the countryside to live with family or friends, which swelled ruralhousehold size from an average of 6.44 individuals to 8.68. By June, the number of people in ruralhouseholds had begun returning to normal, falling to 7.18 (still more than 10 % above pre-earthquakelevels).The report makes 44 recommendations aimed at fostering growth in Haiti’s rural economy, withemphasis on small-scale agriculture. Specifically, it calls for significant investment and innovation todevelop better means of testing and disseminating new crop varieties, new information systemsrelying on mobile phones that enable farmers to provide feedback, improved delivery of productioninputs through shops where farmers routinely buy basic goods, and supporting the development ofsmall agro-enterprises, especially for women.The report also urges that emergency seed relief—involving large-scale dissemination of seed, mostlyof improved varieties—be stopped immediately, since this practice can foster dependence andundermine local seed markets."Nationwide food riots during 2008, by toppling Haiti's government, sent a strong message heardaround the world about the relationship between social stability and the production and availability offood, said Ruben Echeverria, Director General of CIAT. "This study offers new insights into theweaknesses of Haiti’s agriculture as well as concrete advice on how to amend them."Home  / About Us  / Contact Us  / Library  / Copyright Info  / Jobs  / CGIAR CIAT’s website is better visualized downloading Flash plug-in and through Internet Explorer 7 browserCopyright © International Center for Tropical Agriculture 2010. All rights reserved.

Scientists mount a “sting operation” in Thailand to tackle a devastating pest outbreak

https://cgspace.cgiar.org/bitstream/10568/53053/7/News_Scientists_Mount_Sting_Operation_Thailand.pdf

Scientists mount a “sting operation” in Thailand to tackle a devastating pest outbreak

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