By Marie Marthe Saint Cyr | Executive Director
CPP is theCenter for Plantain Production in the Artibonite region of Haiti. Lambi fund has worked through CPP for over a decade with more than 245 growers of Plantain. As you might know, plantain is a main staple in the food chain in Haiti, a produce that can be eaten three to four time a day. As a breakfast food with eggs and other protein goods, as part of the carb intake boiled plantain is served daily mostly to be eaten with meats, fish and greens constituting a wholesome meal; it can also be fried and consumed with a meal, thinly fried as chips; as a poridge for the evening cooked in milk, sugar and spices. It is a main staple.
Over the years, the soil changed rendering the plantain harvest to decrease in volume. Because the products are organic and not treated with chemicals, the soil is turned and is said to be in need of rest and replenishment. Then came Hurricane Mathew that flattens all the plantain trees. Lambi Fund seized the opportunity and with the help of the partners tilled the acreage they have and produced a vast amount of tomatoes and other legumes.
Again we did not wait for responders as the local residents worked together and made a difference then the retailers were able to bring tomatoes to the market and repleninsh their "barques" (wooden open shallow boxes or weaved baskets) where tomatoes are piled in neet linear triangles ready for purchasing.
In spite of the challenges post Mathew we are joined with partners to move forward. The lack of a concerted effort for a natioanl strategy to respond to an emerging need in additon to the existing need pre-Mathew is obvious. The needs can become an entrenched part of the chronicity of issues like health, environment and poverty. For over 1500 farmers and hundreds of merchants who are able to receive micro loans, they are revamping and regaining their capacities to produce revenue against the odds with 60% national unemployment and post Hurricane Mathew nearly 80% ( as we estimated). We have along way to go still. But with your help we beat the odds over and over again.
Dear friend, supporter you have helped and made that possible and your generosity has impacted positively our food production, our food security and many parents are able to feed their children and timidly began to send them to school. The gratitude does not get expressed in words but in deeds as those farming men and women take responsibilities for their families and communities.
Thank you for your help!
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