Haiti: Social infrastructures & capacity building for vetiver farmers

Supporting a cooperative of vetiver growers and their families.

Farmers across three villages in the region of Les Cayes, South Haiti have formed a cooperative for the cultivation of vetiver roots. More than 300 farmers benefit from price premiums and technical support through the cooperative, which also has a development fund for community projects that include, for instance, the repair of the road that serves the three villages and the establishment of a health center.

Haiti: Supporting vetiver growers

In 2017, we funded a project initiated by a group of women and to improve access to drinking water and sanitation facilities for inhabitants of the area. A sanitation and hygiene facility with showers, was inaugurated in May 2018. A drinking water kiosk was installed on the same premises, where purified water is sold at low prices to the community. The kiosk is being managed by the same group of women who initiated the project, and the profit from the water sales is used to ensure the maintenance of the water kiosk and sanitation facility over time.

 

“The new water and sanitation facility in my village is of great importance to me. In my community we have been waiting for a project like this for a long time.”

Judith, villager

Vetiver is mostly harvested during the dry season in Haiti, between January and June. Lower household revenue during the off-season can lead to insufficient nutrition for farmer families. Vegetable gardening at household or village level is a way for families to increase their food autonomy. In addition, it allows for a more balanced nutritional intake during the year and helps generate additional income through the sale of the harvested vegetables. In 2020, a group of women were trained in the cultivation of vegetable plants and composting. As part of the project, a plant nursery was established. From there, the group obtained seedlings, which they planted in their own fields. The group was mentored by a team of agronomists in caring for and harvesting the plants. They also received nutritional advice so they could make the best use of the benefits brought about by the fresh vegetables.

Haiti garden lady

A group of women in the vetiver producing communities were trained in the cultivation of vegetable plants and composting. As part of the project, a plant nursery was established. From there, the group obtained seedlings, which they planted in their own fields. The group was mentored by a team of agronomists in caring for and harvesting the plants. They also received nutritional advice so they could make the best use of the benefits brought about by the fresh vegetables.

Thanks to the gardening project, I no longer have to buy my vegetables at the market. This season I managed to eat and sell a good amount of vegetables. I have already bought three hens and one rooster with the money from the sale.
 

Marie Eliane, beneficiary of the gardening project

Since 2021, we support vetiver farmers in reducing soil erosion and diversifying their agricultural income.

Finally, in 2022, we were associated to the establishment of a health center, which opened its doors providing access to healthcare to people in the community.

Recently opened health center in Haiti

 

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Find out more about our wellbeing projects in communities where Givaudan sources natural ingredients: