Thursday, January 24, 2013. U.S. Ambassador Pamela White inaugurated a new Center for Rural Sustainable Development (CRDD) in Kenscoff. Minister Delegate to the Prime Minister in charge of promoting the Peasantry, Mrs. Marie Mimose Félix, and Secretary of State for Vegetable Production, Mr. Fresnel Dorcin, attended the ceremony with other officials, including the deputy of Kenscoff, Mr. André Gustave Louis.

The center is managed with the assistance of specialists from the University of Florida, who are promoting the use of greenhouses, drip irrigation and vertical farming, for the first time in Haiti. The CRDD, implemented by USAID-funded project "Feed the Future West," serves as a demonstration and training center aiming to modernize Haitian agricultural practices by introducing improved technologies, more crop varieties and better equipment, while protecting the environment. As a result of training received at the center, to date, 423 farmers, including 152 women, have been certified; some of them received their certificates during today’s ceremony.

The Project Director, Jean Robert Estimé, stressed that the lives of benefitting farmers have improved dramatically as a result of the application of new technologies. Farmers are increasing both their production and their incomes. For example, local associations increased the production of potatoes from 10 to 25 tons per year. Michel Dorléan, President of the Association of Kenscoff Cut Flowers Producers, explained that his association will be installing five new greenhouses by the end of April 2013 using its own funds.

"I do not want Haitian farmers to earn only $1 per day," said U.S. Ambassador White. “Only when Haitian peasants earn enough money to pay for their children’s education and health care, and provide for their families, is when we will be really happy.”

The inauguration of this CRDD in Kenscoff demonstrates the U.S. Government's commitment to strengthening Haitian agriculture and sustainability, improving incomes and living conditions for Haitian farmers, and supporting the priorities of the Haitian Government to boost economic development.

HL/ HaitiLibre