At the initiative of the Ministry of Agriculture, in conjunction with the Organization Agronomes et Vétérinaires Sans Frontières (AVSF), as part of the project "JADEN / KREYOL / PROFISUD", funded by Global Affairs Canada and Swiss Cooperation, a workshop to present the strategic framework for the development and governance of the cocoa sector in Haiti was held this week at the Montana Hotel.

Hosted by Group Croissance S.A, this activity aimed not only to present the issues facing the sector but also to gather the opinions and reactions of the stakeholders on the guidelines of this document mainly focusing on a better approach to the development and governance of the cocoa sector.

Cléomé Abel, the Coordinator of the Haitian Coffee Institute (INCAH), said, "This workshop allows us to provide one or more concrete answers to this crucial question : how can we revive the cocoa sector in Haiti with a view to reconciling the interests of producers and agricultural entrepreneurs with the increase in national wealth following a dynamic of good governance ?" continuing, "At the level of the Ministry of Agriculture, measures are being taken so that, within the next ten years, the cocoa sector regains its performance and growth through this strategic framework that will soon be finalized." The data provided by Vernet Joseph, the Minister of Agriculture, suggests a failure of the cocoa sector in recent years. "I will not dwell on statistics on cocoa production in Haiti. It is appropriate to focus on the most recent ones, stigmatizing the decline in this production which went from 20,000 tons in 1960 to 5,000 tons per year in 2022," deplores the Minister adding "Nevertheless, this is a very important sector in the country's economy. Cocoa generates on average 536 million Gourdes per year over the last 5 years, and approximately 130,000 people depend directly on this sector", affirms Minister Joseph before adding that various constraints prevent the normal development of this sector. He cited among others, technical and financial constraints, the lack of outlets during the harvest period, the aging of cocoa trees and producers and the decline in yields. However, the Minister added, increasing cocoa production is a priority and given the dynamics and internal specificities of this sector, increasing its production will require the implementation of numerous targeted and complementary actions in different horizons in the short, medium, and long term.

"It will thus be supported by a progressive approach focused on a diversity of productive and structuring actions and a specific plot development technique," the Minister maintains.

In her speech, Ermitha Mingot, Project Manager for Agronomists and Veterinarians Without Borders (AVSF), recalled that cocoa is the third largest agricultural export product in Haiti after essential oils and mango. Haitian cocoa, she continued, is in high demand on the international market for its intrinsic qualities. "Thus, it is good that the actors, producers, cooperatives, regulatory support institutions continue the improvement process initiated in order to address the various challenges facing the sector," concluding, "The vision is to achieve a competitive value chain that generates increased income and acts as a lever for creating decent jobs."

It should be noted that the document was analyzed both in form and substance. After a day of arduous work between lectures and group discussions, the technicians were unable to finish with the technical and strategic considerations that also deserve to be explored in depth. Also, they made an appointment to continue the exercise and share their recommendations within a reasonable time frame.

See also:

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41416-haiti-agriculture-70-organic-dark-chocolate-from-haiti-finalist-at-the-good-food-awards-2024.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41405-haiti-agriculture-towards-the-production-of-25-000-cocoa-seedlings.html

HL/ HaitiLibre