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Haiti - Agriculture : Food security conditions continue to worsen
03/08/2020 10:05:33

In its latest note published at the end of July, the international network of famine early warning systems "Famine Early Warning Systems Network" (FEWS NET) funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) explains that in Haiti, spring harvests that are below average will have a negative effect on summer, fall and winter harvests, as farmers use the income and seeds from these harvests to start subsequent crop years (employment of labor, purchase of seeds, etc...) This will reduce the performance of these campaigns, despite regular and normal rains expected until October.

FEWS NET indicates that the economic climate in Haiti continues to deteriorate, specifying that between January and July 2020, the Gourde had lost more than 22% of its value, strengthening the inflationary expectations of economic agents https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22306-haiti-flash-architecture-competition-for-the-reconstruction-of-the-national-palace.html . The network points out,"The prices of basic foodstuffs remain higher than last year and the last five years, making them very inaccessible."

Recalling "Despite the decision of the Haitian authorities to officially open its land border https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-31162-haiti-politic-jovenel-moise-announces-the-gradual-reopening-of-the-national-economy.html , on the Dominican side, the border is still closed. "A situation that strengthens informal trade between the two countries causes product prices to increase."

"The harvests in July and August, although weak, will temporarily improve food availability and thus stabilize the prices of local products for a short time, notably beans and corn. Food insecurity in Crisis (Phase 3 of the IPC) is however expected in the Haut Artibonite, the Upper plateau, the Lower North-West, the North-East, the Nippes, parts of the West, of the South-East, South and Grand'Anse. The other regions (Lower Artibonite, Lower Plateau, Plaine des Cayes, etc..., where the harvests are more or less good, will remain in Stress (IPC Phase 2)."

Learn more about the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) :

Phase 1 :
Usually adequate and stable food access with moderate to low risk of sliding into Phase 3, 4, or 5.

Phase 2 : Moderately / Borderline Food Insecure
Borderline adequate food access with recurrent high risk (due to probable hazard events and high vulnerability) of sliding into Phase 3, 4, or 5.

Phase 3 : Acute Food and Livelihood Crisis
Highly stressed and critical lack of food access with high and above usual malnutrition and accelerated depletion of livelihood assets that, if continued, will slide the population into Phase 4 or 5 and / or likely result in chronic poverty.

Phase 4 : Humanitarian Emergency
Severe lack of food access with excess mortality, very high and increasing malnutrition, and irreversible livelihood asset stripping.

Phase 5 : Famine / Humanitarian Catastrophe
Extreme social upheaval with complete lack of food access and / or other basic needs where mass starvation, death, and displacement are evident.

HL/ HaitiLibre