PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti (CMC) — The food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is providing US$200,000 for a project that will assist at least 600 farm households establish agroforestry production systems allowing them to earn their livelihoods.

Agriculture Minister André Béliard and FAO representative, Dr Nathanael Hishamunda signed the technical cooperation project aimed at strengthening the ministry’s technical assistance services in the South Department in agroforestry production.

Béliard said he believes that this pilot project will revitalise the agroforestry system, first in the commune of Saint Jean du Sud and wants to extend it in the South department once the resources are available.

“The implementation of this project focused particularly on the production of coconut trees, is a key issue for my department, when we know the economic and gastronomic importance of this crop for the country. We plan to establish nurseries for the production of coconut seedlings, as well as other agroforestry seedlings, as part of this project,” he said.

Hishamunda said this is one of the initiatives through which FAO intends to renew its support to the Government of Haiti to rehabilitate productive systems in the country with an approach promoting sustainable agriculture and natural resource management.

“We hope that this US$200,000 funding from FAO’s own funds will lead to the development of a viable and sustainable agroforestry programme in the South Department.”

The project, which is part of the ministry’s post-Matthew response plan, will be implemented through a tripartite partnership involving the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development (MARNDR), FAO and the Cuban government to provide technical assistance in South-South cooperation.