On Friday, the Association of Sons and Friends of Marbial (AFAM), proceeded to the distribution of seedlings to members of seven associations working in the livestock sector at large neighborhood of Marbial, town of Jacmel, in order to revive on the one hand agriculture and protect the environment against natural hazards and secondly, to create a revenue-generating activity for the population.

There were dozens of members of associations including the "Asosyasyon elvè Sant Mabyal" (AESMA), "Asosyasyon Elvè Tèt Asanm Menan"(AETAM), "Asosyasyon Payizan Elvè Molyè" (EPEM) to come to receive the seedlings.

Jacques Obnel Lafortune, the Secretary General of the AFAM, said that each member receives a batch of 100 seedlings, including citrus, mélina, Morenga, sarman, cedar, apple mahogany, and mango. According to Mr. Lafortune, agriculture and the environment are part of one of the priorities of the AFAM that since 2008, with the support of the population and local authorities, including CASEC and ASEC of the area, engage in a joint struggle to protect the environment which degrades day by day.

The Secretary General said rely on the dynamism of each member for the planting and monitoring and these seedlings, highlighting to the attention of the beneficiaries the importance of trees in the life of human beings and urged leaders associations to fulfill their responsibilities so that these plants can give good results. The Board of Directors of the AFAM, intends to pursue its target for 2013, which is the planting of 300,000 forest trees, 300,000 fruit trees and 200,000 coffee tree.

Association members did not hide their satisfaction and expressed determination to go through in order to save the next generation against the threats of extinction of the neighborhood Marbial living mainly from agriculture. Formerly, the Marbial neighborhood is divided over 5 Sections communal : Fond Melon Selle, La Gosseline, Cochon-gras, Marbial and Grande Rivière de Jacmel, an estimated population of about 70,000, mostly made ​​up of young, was considered one of the main granaries of the Southeast, particularly in the city of Jacmel. Despite its agricultural potential, a major producer of coffee and a variety of food resources, Marbial currently confronts serious problems that prevent it to develop due to environmental degradation.

HL/ HaitiLibre / Claudy Bélizaire (Correspondant Jacmel)