Haitian ag sector damage target of FAO assessment

The spring planting season that supplies Haiti with 60 percent of the nation’s agricultural production is approaching as relief efforts continue. Important infrastructure necessary for cultivation and distribution of food was damaged, with irrigation canals and storage facilities destroyed in the earthquake.

Rescue operations for Haiti are ongoing, with support turning towards supplying farmers with seeds and fertilizers, reconstructing agricultural operations and providing tools and equipment to continue production. A fracturing of the supply system, along with shortages in food provisions and fuel sources, are causing food prices to rise.

The UN-affiliated Food and Agriculture Organization currently provides Haiti with $49 million worth of programs that boost food production, and has sent experts to determine the impact of the earthquake on Haiti’s entire agricultural sector.

Full story: FAO