Lavanneau
The target region for Praxis is Lavanneau, located to the northwest of Jacmel. Lavanneau is roughly 24 square miles and has approximately 10,000 inhabitants. Most residents are small subsistence farmers who own plots of 2-3 acres of land. The community has little to no access to basic infrastructure such as electricity, paved roads, safe drinking water and health care. Historically Lavanneau had a large coffee processing facility where Praxis now operates. Since the 1950’s Lavanneau has struggled to maintain its agricultural identity and productivity. The central problem of agriculture in this area is low yield which is compounded by food waste. Praxis meets with community leaders and residents in Lavanneau to continually assess their needs, strengths, challenges, assets and concerns. Below is a compilation of our findings:
- Farming Methods
Due to antiquated farming practices and decades of soil degradation, current subsistence farming within the area is not sufficient to meet demand for household members. Farmers use basic hand tools and do not have resources of current agricultural technology and training.
2. Environmental Issues
Environmental degradation in Haiti is legendary. Deforestation causes top soil runoff after heavy tropical rains which in turn leave arable lands less fertile. Most rural communities are situated in mountainous areas which are often not suitable for crops selected by farmers. This approach also leads to decreased soil productivity.
3. Training
Access to knowledge and information within the field of agronomy is limited by education and literacy levels of rural farmers. At a 38% national literacy rate, and potentially higher rate within the rural sectors, most farmers are unable to read labels and directions for pesticides, fertilizers or any other farming materials.
4. Food Waste
The scarcity of food crops is due in part to transportation and preservation capacity in attempting to bring them to market. A percentage of the crops are never harvested and end up rotting on the ground. Of the crops that are brought to market, another percentage is lost due to transportation damage thereby affecting the quality of the produce and lowering its value. Finally, whatever is not sold by the end of the day becomes waste on the ground and unusable for sale or consumption. This cycle of waste is a major element in weak market presence and severely limits the economic viability of small scale farmers. Training in food processing and preservation techniques will not only increase product quantity and quality, but will also provide a means of product differentiation and strengthen market duration, therefore increasing the economic productivity of each small scale farmer.
5. Collaboration
No formal associations exist within Lavanneau to aid farmers in the production and distribution of their food crops. This lack of coordination results in over and under production of various crops and poor land management. Despite the fact that Lavanneau is an agricultural community, it does not produce enough quantity or variety for the subsistence of its own residents and thereby families purchase foodstuffs from open markets in Jacmel and neighboring areas. All of these factors create an economic climate of fierce competition with very low price points. Due to lack of cooperative efforts and mutual resources, the farming community of Lavanneau is unable to meet the demands of market quantity and quality or product differentiation.
Praxis has already begun engaging in the effort to foster collaboration amongst the farmers within Lavanneau. Preliminary community meetings have set the groundwork for interaction between farmers and raised awareness of the vital necessity of cooperation. The community meetings conducted thus far have given opportunity for members to voice their concerns and ideas within a constructive environment. Through the use of surveys and continued meetings, a greater efficiency and productivity will be brought to the area through the cooperative efforts of each farmer.
