Agriculture is a key part of rural life in Haiti, employing most rural families and making up 66 percent of rural jobs. Despite its importance, the sector faces major difficulties that have deepened poverty in the countryside. Up to 75 percent of low-income households in rural areas often lack access to basic services.
Haiti’s agricultural sector has been weakened by long-term underinvestment in infrastructure, public programs, and natural resource management. Poor farming methods, caused by pressure on land, limited education, and economic challenges, have led to about 85 percent of the country’s watersheds being degraded.
Natural disasters have added to these problems. Events such as Hurricane Matthew in 2016 and the earthquake in 2021 damaged critical irrigation systems in southern Haiti. “As water is essential for crop cultivation, these events have made it nearly impossible for farmers to earn steady incomes,” explained Michel Soy, Head of the Dory Smallholder’s Association. Many rural Haitians rely on subsistence farming as their main source of food.
Investment in agriculture is seen as vital for reducing poverty. In 2012, around 80 percent of households that depended only on agriculture lived below the poverty line—much higher than the national average of 57 percent. Over the past decade, factors like extreme weather, soil erosion, limited resources for farming, and less available land have further reduced agricultural productivity and put more pressure on farmers’ livelihoods.
To address these issues, Haitian policymakers developed a national strategy focused on landscape-level management. The government launched the National Adaptation Program of Action (NAPA) in 2006 to identify urgent climate risks and highlight watershed restoration and disaster preparedness among its priorities from 2010-2025.
The NAPA aimed to tackle climate change impacts such as droughts, unpredictable rainfall patterns, fragile soils, erosion, and flooding. As part of this approach—and with financing and support from the World Bank—the government started the Resilient Productive Landscapes Project. This initiative helps farmers use sustainable agricultural practices in targeted sub-watersheds while also improving infrastructure and providing training.
Results from this project include:
- Adoption of advanced agricultural technologies by 4,267 farmers (nearly 38 percent women)
- Sustainable management practices now used on 2,050 hectares
- Four sub-watersheds created participatory management plans
- A climate risk decision tool covers over 21,000 hectares within project areas
- Establishment of 112 farmer field schools training about 2,800 farmers (almost 38 percent women)
- Installation of family water tanks benefiting vulnerable households
- Participation by over 1,500 farmers—47 percent women—in grant projects supporting local market access
- Emergency distributions after the 2021 earthquake provided seeds and support services to thousands
“As Haiti is experiencing one of the most challenging periods in recent history, the World Bank supports the government's priorities to strengthen agricultural infrastructure, protect the environment, and support local communities thereby improving resilience to climate risks, food security, and creating jobs,” said Anne-Lucie Lefebvre, World Bank Country manager for Haiti.
A major part of these efforts has been restoring irrigation channels damaged by disasters. The project repaired more than 32 kilometers of canals across five main irrigated zones in southern Haiti. “The irrigation channels were devastated by hurricanes and the earthquake, but following repairs our productivity has significantly increased,” added Michel Soy.
These actions are helping Haiti move toward more sustainable agriculture practices while improving food security and resilience against future challenges.