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An experiment in Haiti is making once-arid lands fertile, and poor farmers into money-makers
Miami Herald via Yahoo ^ | November 24, 2023 | Jacqueline Charles

Posted on 11/24/2023 1:29:17 PM PST by grundle

At first sight, the nearly four acres of farmland in this rural hamlet in northeast Haiti resembles more of a desert than a thriving agricultural experiment. The soil is brown and barren, battered by a lack of water and neglect.

But walk further inland and the seemingly lifeless terrain soon turns green: Cabbages and pumpkins rise out of the ground, papayas hang from trees and workers plant rows of hot peppers in the freshly plowed dirt as a generator hisses in the background.

A year ago, such a lush landscape was unimaginable for Fransik Monchèr, a farmer and father of seven who couldn’t even grow fiery habanero peppers because they quickly died.

All that changed the day a group of entrepreneurs decided to take a gamble to launch a socioeconomic experiment with the goal of answering a simple, but daunting question: What if a Haitian farmer, like Monchèr, had everything he needed to be a successful grower?


(Excerpt) Read more at yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: agriculture; gardening; haiti; hobbies; trickleirrigation
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I support using modern technology to give every person on earth a first world standard of living. The Asian tiger countries went from third world to first world in a very short period of time. Now Haiti is starting to do the same thing.
1 posted on 11/24/2023 1:29:17 PM PST by grundle
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To: grundle

220 years of freedom from the French. A bit slow on the draw wouldn’t you say?


2 posted on 11/24/2023 1:36:06 PM PST by DIRTYSECRET
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To: grundle; Diana in Wisconsin; metmom
grundle : " I support using modern technology to give every person on earth a first world standard of living..."

How long before the youth gangs of Haiti see the agricultural success of these farmers,
and then invoke a 'transportation tax' for agricultural goods like the cartels did in Mexico with the avocado crops sold in the US ?
It reminds me of the "Insurance Fee" that the mob/ mafia charged inner city businesses to remain in business.
Nonetheless, it's a good start for the national economic recovery that Haiti needs for self-sufficiency.
The move from over ripened peppers into a pepper sauce was brilliant !

3 posted on 11/24/2023 1:57:58 PM PST by Tilted Irish Kilt
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To: DIRTYSECRET; All
Interesting that President Adams aided the Haitian black leader L'Ouverture, then President Jefferson stopped the aid.

The United States grew more hostile to Haiti after the successor to L'Ouverture massacred the remaining whites after the French, under Napolean, tried to re-conquer Haiti and were defeated.

4 posted on 11/24/2023 2:02:39 PM PST by marktwain
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To: DIRTYSECRET
According to population DNA tests, approximately 80% of the population of Haiti is Afro-Haitian. Within Black Haitian DNA the composition is approximately 75% African, 25% European or mixed European. The remaining population of Haiti is primarily composed of Mulattoes, Europeans, Asians, and Arabs.

Therein lies the answer.

5 posted on 11/24/2023 2:02:49 PM PST by logi_cal869 (-cynicus the "concern troll" a/o 10/03/2018 /!i!! &@$%&*(@ -)
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Comment #6 Removed by Moderator

To: grundle

I wonder who is underwriting the so-called ‘entrepreneurs’ behind this effort.


7 posted on 11/24/2023 2:06:52 PM PST by logi_cal869 (-cynicus the "concern troll" a/o 10/03/2018 /!i!! &@$%&*(@ -)
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To: Tilted Irish Kilt

I thought ‘She Who Shall Not Be Named’ already whipped Haiti into shape decades ago? *SMIRK*

Good for them. “A Farm...if you can keep it!” ~ Benjamin Franklin


8 posted on 11/24/2023 2:07:54 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
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To: DIRTYSECRET

My very successful BIL farmer retired and moved to Haiti.

To help teach them how to farm.

As long as he was there over seeing the operations they did fine.

As soon as he left for awhile they fell back into the old ways.


9 posted on 11/24/2023 2:11:33 PM PST by riverrunner
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To: logi_cal869

To make the agricultural project work, the duo invested in a drip irrigation system, similar to what’s used in the Dominican Republic, and fertilizer. They also brought onboard interns from the nearby University of Limonade to assist and to learn.

The financial model, which Handal came up with, calls for the Paulette farmers to get 30% of sales.


Good question. an indication it is for profit type of investment?


10 posted on 11/24/2023 2:15:19 PM PST by PeterPrinciple (Thinking Caps are no longer being issued but there must be a warehouse full of them somewhere.)
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To: logi_cal869

https://naahpusa.org/profile/geoffrey-handal/

In 2009, Geoffrey returned to Haiti to join his family business, ETS JB Vital, a shipping agent and logistics provider, where he is now the General Manager. Since then, he has led the restructuring of the core business activities and has overseen investments in new fields.


A local leader who cares?


11 posted on 11/24/2023 2:18:43 PM PST by PeterPrinciple (Thinking Caps are no longer being issued but there must be a warehouse full of them somewhere.)
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To: Tilted Irish Kilt
They need to learn to employ a regular rotation crop program ,
because both peppers and potatoes are of the solanacious family.
They still need a reliable 'money making' cover crop to add into their crop rotation program,
as well as maybe alfalfa for beginning a novel diary crop for milk production.
They need to build up soil fertility

12 posted on 11/24/2023 2:20:52 PM PST by Tilted Irish Kilt
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To: PeterPrinciple

That was NOT my question.


13 posted on 11/24/2023 2:21:11 PM PST by logi_cal869 (-cynicus the "concern troll" a/o 10/03/2018 /!i!! &@$%&*(@ -)
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To: grundle

I hope the guy washes his hands really well before he rubs his eyes.


14 posted on 11/24/2023 2:25:18 PM PST by hanamizu ( )
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To: logi_cal869

I wonder who is underwriting the so-called ‘entrepreneurs’ behind this effort.


you asked the question; it looks like it is local money and investment.

And that is the way it should be. Good leaders on occasion do still rise to the top but it is rare. My take is that this may be one of them.

It appears he has skin in the game.


15 posted on 11/24/2023 2:25:41 PM PST by PeterPrinciple (Thinking Caps are no longer being issued but there must be a warehouse full of them somewhere.)
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To: grundle

All that changed the day a group of entrepreneurs

The key word. Haiti (or any poor country for that matter) needs more entrepreneurs/capitalists and fewer aid programs/NGOs/Hillary-types.

16 posted on 11/24/2023 2:30:28 PM PST by Kenny Bania (Ovaltine? Why not call it Roundtine?)
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To: Kenny Bania

I wonder of the “experiment” involves Haitian farmers having fertilizer — what Biden and the Dims are trying to take away from American farmers.


17 posted on 11/24/2023 2:37:48 PM PST by Tell It Right (1st Thessalonians 5:21 -- Put everything to the test, hold fast to that which is true.)
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To: grundle

So....
someone told them that to grow crops you need water and fertilizer?


18 posted on 11/24/2023 2:50:38 PM PST by Repeal The 17th (Get out of the matrix and get a real life.)
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To: grundle

What’s the experiment? Actually cultivating the land? Planting seeds? Watering? Fertilizing?


19 posted on 11/24/2023 2:55:13 PM PST by Bonemaker (invictus maneo)
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To: grundle

If this horse hockey was true, why the hell are they all flying into Mexico and wading across the Rio Grande?


20 posted on 11/24/2023 2:57:50 PM PST by FlingWingFlyer (It wasn't "genocide" when Hamas did it. Hypocrites!!!)
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