Agriculture in Haiti, particularly in the northwest region, plays a vital role in the country’s economy and livelihoods. The region is known for its fertile lands and underground water resources. However, poor infrastructure, recurrent droughts and seismic events, coupled with persistent insecurity and political and economic instability, have hindered development and led to one of the highest levels of food insecurity in the world.

Today, nearly 5.4 million people in the Caribbean nation face acute food insecurity and with a vast majority of them living in rural areas, agriculture represents a lifeline for the population.

With $5 million in funding from the World Bank, UNOPS is working with the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development (MARNDR) on an extension of the ‘Emergency Resilient Agriculture for Food Security (PARSA)’ project.

This initiative will help address the root causes of hunger and malnutrition by making agricultural systems more resilient to climate-induced shocks and stresses and increasing communities' access to nutritious food, including in earthquake-affected areas.

The project includes the rehabilitation of damaged irrigation to regulate the flow of water, reduce leakages and increase access to water. Small-scale water infrastructure and equipment will also make it possible to harvest water – improving crop resilience to frequent droughts.

The project will also implement land management measures to protect the soil, enhance cultivation performances and build a stable base for agriculture, which is more resilient to earthquakes and other shocks. The rehabilitation and construction of new rural roads will also be essential to connect communities to agricultural areas and economic opportunities.