6.3 Sectors in Haiti contributing to Haiti’s Bioeconomy
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
Agriculture dominates Haiti’s economy, engaging two-thirds of its labor force but contributing only a quarter to its GDP. Challenges persist concerning soil quality and fishing zones. Although only a fifth of the land is suitable for farming, over two-fifths are currently cultivated. Issues like soil erosion, recurring droughts, and lack of irrigation hinder productivity. Farmers primarily focus on subsistence crops like cassava, plantains, maize, yams, sweet potatoes, and rice. Arabica coffee is the main cash crop, marketed through intermediaries. Sugarcane is another major crop, yet Haiti now imports sugar.
Deforestation, rooted in historical needs for sugarcane processing fuel and charcoal for urban areas, poses a significant problem. Political instability and insufficient funding thwart efforts to reduce forest fuel dependence. Reforestation plans face delays due to social unrest and the prioritization of other projects. Presently, only a small fraction of Haiti’s land remains forested. Livestock mainly includes goats, cattle, pigs, horses, and poultry. An outbreak in the late 1970s led to the extinction of Haiti’s Creole pig population by 1982, impacting many peasants. Historically, Haitians favored agriculture over fishing due to historical reasons. However, some fisheries exist in ponds and canals. Despite small, poorly equipped fishing boats, the potential for a commercial fishing industry exists, thanks to significant deep-sea fish migrations along Haiti’s coasts.
Given that local non-governmental and governmental organisations have been pushing for agricultural biotechnology’s integration into the Haitian economy in recent years, this presents an opportunity for U.S. suppliers. Despite the fact that biotechnology is still a contentious topic in Haiti, the country is largely dependent on imports from nations where agricultural biotechnology is widely used. There isn’t currently a law prohibiting the use of genetically modified food, animals, or crops.