By Abbas Nazil
In an effort to transform its struggling agricultural sector, Haiti has established locally-managed seed banks, offering farmers high-quality seeds to improve yields and reduce dependency on foreign imports.
For decades, low-quality seeds plagued Haitian farmers, with germination rates as low as 40 to 50 per cent, leaving them vulnerable to climate shocks and political instability.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), in partnership with Haiti’s Ministry of Agriculture, has been supporting the establishment of Groupements de Production Artisanale de Semences (GPAS), community seed banks that cultivate and distribute reliable seeds.
There are now over 200 GPAS across Haiti, playing a critical role as more than half the population faces emergency food insecurity, and agriculture is further threatened by armed violence from increased gang activity.
PierreFrantz Jacques, FAO seed bank project manager, said GPAS provides quality seeds that directly improve productivity and food security in local communities.
The GPAS programme was revitalized in 2010 after Haiti’s devastating 7.0 earthquake, when FAO recognized the need to strengthen seed systems rather than rely on imports.
The initiative provided farmers with first-generation seeds, training in cultivation and harvesting techniques, and financial management skills, combining modern agricultural science with traditional local knowledge.
Farmers are encouraged to choose seed varieties suited to their local environments, preserving agricultural traditions while adapting to climate conditions.
Storage solutions, such as silos, are provided to protect seed stocks from extreme weather, making seeds an important adaptation tool in the face of worsening climate shocks.
Two-thirds of Haitians depend on agriculture for their livelihoods, yet the sector produces only about 40 per cent of the country’s food, a shortfall that fuels reliance on imports and contributes to economic instability.
By empowering local farmers to produce their own seeds, GPAS reduces dependency on external suppliers and enhances community autonomy.
FAO Representative Pierre Vauthier stressed that while humanitarian aid is crucial in crises, the organization’s long-term goal is to create self-sustaining communities that can recover and thrive without external assistance.
He said resilience restores dignity, allowing communities to think of themselves not as aid recipients but as independent actors in their own development.
Haiti’s challenges remain severe, with 1.3 million people displaced, nearly six million facing food insecurity, and ongoing threats from both climate change and violence.
Yet FAO believes that sustainable change can begin with something as small as a single seed, gradually spreading local successes to benefit the entire nation.
Jacques emphasized that producing their own seeds enables farmers to strengthen food security and take control of their futures.
