From Marc Cohen <marc.cohen@xxxxxxxxx>
Bob,
No, I do not think the "cultivable" surface has increased in the last 16
years, but as Andrew Tarter has indicated, what is classified as
"cultivable" and what is actually cultivated in Haiti may be different. I
do think that yields from the cultivable land can be increased, as has
happened for example in the Artibonite Valley using the system of rice
intensification (SRI). Both Oxfam's projects and those of USAID have
achieved significant yield gains using this agro-ecological approach,
which emphasizes less use of seed and external inputs (albeit at the cost
of greater labor intensivity). I also think that better maintenance of
existing irrigation works and perhaps expansion of irrigation would be
helpful, as would a more favorable policy framework for local production.
Cheers.
Marc
MARC J. COHEN, PH.D. | Senior Researcher, Aid Effectiveness
Oxfam America | Washington, DC | O: +1 (202) 471-3053 | M: +1 (202)
460-5330 | Skype: mjcrtp
www.oxfamamerica.org | facebook.com/oxfamamerica | twitter.com/oxfamamerica
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