Agricultural and Agroforestry Technological Innovation Program (PITAG) in Haiti

The Program seeks to help restore agricultural productivity in the areas of Haiti most affected by Hurricane Matthew in October 2016. Its general objective is to increase agricultural income and food security for small farmers in selected areas of the country. Specific objectives of the project include increasing agricultural productivity and improving the use of natural capital through the adoption of sustainable technologies. The PITAG is structured in two technical components. The first, applied research and training, includes the development and implementation of applied and adaptive agricultural research projects by national and international institutions, the strengthening of the higher education curriculum to improve applied research and technology transfer capabilities in Haiti, and the institutional strengthening of the Innovation Directorate of the Ministry of Agriculture. The second component focuses on the promotion of sustainable agricultural technologies, financing the adoption of profitable, climate-smart and sustainable agricultural technologies, implemented through the agricultural incentives program of the Ministry of Agriculture. Among the main actions of the project are the distribution of vouchers and technical assistance mainly for agroforestry, the provision of technological packages adapted to local conditions with emphasis on perennial crops, the introduction of the farmer field school (FFS) methodology for the adoption and evaluation of technologies, and the conduct of baseline studies, intermediate and final evaluations, and continuous monitoring and evaluation activities. In addition, the participation of women and young people in the program is promoted, with specific gender and youth objectives, and a detailed assessment of climate risks is carried out with recommendations for mitigation measures in the intervention areas.