Rural Value Chains

Salt Production & Fortification

Our strategy to modernize the salt value chain has focused on organization and capacity building on the grassroots salt production levels, and introduction and accompaniment of efficient salt production facilities in Commune Anse Rouge.  

Our goal is to eliminate iodine Deficiency Disorder in Haiti, and contribute to the country’s self-sufficiency in salt production and distribution.  Our model of development follows the principles of PROUT (the PROgressive Utilization Theory) which seeks to utilize block level planning (such as the SHGs) and self-sufficient economic and social units based on geographic and regional boundaries and resources, and to reinvest all revenue in the development of the human resources of the production area.

Our salt social entrepreneurship facility (ESPRI-Sel) has the capacity to produce 30% of Haiti’s salt, investing all revenues in support for women’s SHG capacity building and microcredit opportunities.  Parallel to that we accompany traditional salt producers in switching to more efficient production methods, and in organizing small and medium salt production cooperatives.  Our strategy includes the completion of 2 wharfs, a shipping line, and a processing facility to fortify all of the salt Haiti needs for its consumption.  

Our strategy has resulted in an increase by 18,000 MTs the national annual salt yields, capable of meeting more than 60% of the national demand.  Approximately 180 full-time work positions have been created, and Anse Rouge has gained its first ever sea wharf which will connect it to markets and goods through efficient maritime connection. Learn more here.

Moringa Transformation

Our goal is to bring to the mainstream of Haiti’s society the propagation, transformation, and consumption of moringa, and reduce malnutrition rates in targeted groups and communities.  

Our 9 community-managed tree nurseries produce more than 180,000 moringa trees annually, which are distributed and planted in approximately 24 mountain villages.  Our agronoms accompany SHGs and farmers in the plantation and transformation of moringa seedlings and seeds.  Together with our community partners we have planted more than 1 Million moringa trees over the last 9 years.  Our data shows a drastic drop (of 78% compared to baseline) of malnutrition rates in the 6 communities where moringa consumption is most readily embraced by the population.  Additionally, moringa live hedges have resulted in reduced soil erosion (82% compared to baseline) and improved ground vegetation cover (38% compared to baseline), further contributing to the overall ecological balance of the region.  

Sustainable Agriculture

Our goal is to increase the economic and environmental resilience and knowledge base of local producers, decrease malnutrition rates of children in the area, and improve the ecological balance and impact on climate change.  Our strategy is to introduce ecologically sustainable best practices and accompany producers in the formation of village seed and tool banks, the construction and management of irrigation systems, establishment of model agricultural parcels, amongst others.  We offer micro-insurance programs (supported by WFP) to producers in the South Department, as well as resilience activities targeting the improvement of watersheds, reduction of soil erosion, expansion of road connectivity, construction of micro lakes, and improved irrigation.  

Our sustainable agriculture strategy has resulted in the following measurable KPIs:

• 28 km of irrigation canals completed since 2014

• 380 Ha of newly irrigated land made productive

• 3,800 MT annually of new agriculture products (cereals and vegetables) produced as a result of the new irrigation systems

• 12,300 people benefiting from improved nutrition as a result

• 12 agriculture processing businesses formed and accompanied

• 2,600 agricultural livelihoods created 

• 64 seeds and tools committees and banks formed and accompanied with tools and training 

  Local agricultural production and school canteen

  Our goal is to reduce the importation of food used by the national canteen program, to improve local resilience and to reduce children’s malnutrition and eliminate Iodine Deficiency Disorder. 

  Our cooperation with the World Food Program (WFP) and AMURT allows us to accompany and support 600 agricultural producers to provide more than 1,200 MTs of locally grown cereals and vegetables to schools in the Northeast and Center Departments, as well as 100% of the fortified salt required by these schools.  We are WFP’s and AMURT’s implementing partner responsible for operating a school canteen program benefiting 300 schools and benefiting 72,000 students.