The Haiti Reconstruction Fund (HRF) approved a funding request of US$2 million dollars to support the re-emergence of national milk production. This increased production should satisfy the nutritional demands of approximately 3000 children over the next three years.
The US$2 million will fund the first phase ofa project entitled Milk Production and Processing in Haiti which wasapproved by the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission (IHRC) with a total cost of US$17 million. The project aims to restore local capacity for milk production through training, improved collection and distribution networks, and support to local milk producers. Phase I of the project will establish three milk production centers to attain greater productivity and efficiency.
Haiti is highly dependent on food imports and every year it imports 90,000 metric tons of milk to meet the demands of the population. Dr. Josef Leitmann, HRF Manager, said: “Haiti’s recovery requires a healthy agricultural sector which is also key to the country’s food security.”
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization, the project’s implementing agency, indicated that ”This project will foster job creation and strengthen the rural economy.Milk provides relatively quick returns for small-scale livestock keepers. It is a balanced nutritious food and is a key element in household food security.”