20 August 2009, Rome - A $10.2 million scheme to distribute and
multiply quality seeds in Haiti has significantly increased food
production in the Caribbean nation providing cheaper food for
the population and boosting farmers' incomes. Requested by the
Haitian government, financed by a loan from the International
Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and implemented by FAO,
the programme was introduced to combat high international food
prices. The situation was made more urgent by a series of deadly
tropical storms that hit Haiti exactly a year ago in which
farmers lost seeds and crops. With this year’s hurricane season
now underway, the programme has also helped boost FAO seed
stocks in Haiti so the country will have more quality seeds at
hand to distribute should farmers lose their stocks again. $5
million worth of beans in one season Almost 250 000 smallholder
and landless farmers have or will receive adapted quality seeds
through the programme, which although only half way completed
has already paid f