Thursday, in the framework of his official visit to Japan, the President Michel Martelly met Mr Hideaki Domichi, Vice-President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), around Japan's commitment to Haiti and of perspectives of development of the cooperation, including in the areas of environment and food security.

In the perspective of a National Policy, promoting a cooperation more dynamic and fruitful, discussions focused, among other things, on a reorientation of Japan Donation Program, an intensification of donation program off project, that prioritizes among other, the sale of fertilizer directly to farmers.

"We want to dedicate to it the ime and energy required. With the passage of Sandy, we could measure the vulnerability of Haiti because of deforestation. Each rainfall, even the most insignificant, constitutes a threat for the population," declared the Head of State to his interlocutor. He also stressed the need for knowledge transfer and the sharing of experiences with Haiti, for the training of executives on the grounds and the sending of experts. "The issue is too serious to avoid use the great means."

On the other hand, to face a set of problems that confronts the Haitian agriculture, and on which the Government work in order to reduce them, the President Martelly has called upon the expertise of Japan, which has already proven itself in rice cultivation "Just for rice, we import each year approximately 400,000 metric tons, or 200 million U.S. dollars," specified the Head of State who wants absolutely out of this over-reliance of the country, which imports 60% of its food.

The President Martelly believes that today, with Japan, the cooperation should encourage in priority, a strategic crop for the food security of the Haitian people and the infrastructure development on solid bases, in order to reduce the country's vulnerability to flooding affecting the population, destroying crops and livestock and took away the soil.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-7340-haiti-politic-the-president-martelly-defines-its-priorities-with-japan.html

HL/ HaitiLibre