Haiti - Equipping Farmer-leaders

Source: LEAP Haiti Newsletter 3rd Issue - September 2011

During the assessment done last year, one of the identified needs of the farmers was lacked of technical support in veterinary care and sustainable farming methods. Animals just died due to lack of know-how and farm lands were not fully maximized. To answer this need, CRWRC/ZOA conducted two separate workshops. We believe that our work is not just to replace the assets lost in the earthquake (seeds, animals and tools) but also to assist farmer-leaders to answer the needs of their community.

Last August, there were 31 graduates (26 Male and 5 Female) who finished Basic Veterinary Care Training. They were given both theories and practical works. Since then, these graduates continue to enhance their skills by doing community clinic. There are around 80-100 animals that were diagnosed and treated during community clinic. Presently, all supplies and medicines are subsidized by CRWRC/ZOA but these local veterinarians are now beginning to ask some financial counter-parts to farmers so they can purchase their needed supplies and medicines in the future.
On the other hand, another 31 community leaders attended a two-day soil conservation training where they were taught the different ways to prevent soil erosion, e.g. stone-terraces, canal contouring. Communities where CRWRC/ZOA work are mostly mountainous and hilly. In partnership with farmer-leaders and through cash for work program, the team began to rehabilitate some hills by constructing canals, planting few trees and in some areas where there are many stones, terraces. There are now more than seven kilometers (total length), one meter wide and one meter deep canals that were constructed.
 “I only finished 9th grade Primary” shared Jadelyne Odnis, a single mother from Toro Community. “Before when our animals got sick, we did not know what to do and many of them just died, now community people call me if their animals are sick, and I am happy that I can be of help to them.” Jadelyn is presently the Local Agriculture Technician (LAT) in Toro and attended both trainings mentioned above.