Annual Report: Support to Agricultural Research and Development Program

The program aims to enhance and improve existing country-driven approaches to address food insecurity and under-nutrition in Haiti by strengthening and supporting Haitian institutions. The SARDP is based on a strategic framework that focuses on increasing the availability of improved production technologies to farmers and the private sector through effective extension and development of an agricultural innovation system. The program builds on the National Agriculture Investment Plan (NAIP), which outlines key interventions needed to improve the agricultural sector in Haiti. The SARDP is guided by five key principles: providing opportunities for male and female Haitians to improve their lives, supporting training, innovation, and inclusive communication, mentoring agents of change, building and supporting stronger farmer organizations and agribusinesses, and fostering a culture of evaluation, self-assessment, and accountability. During the period of May 11, 2015, to September 30, 2015, the SARDP team conducted various activities to organize the project team and consortium partners, meet with USAID Washington and Haiti staff, and identify potential partner organizations. The team met with key public and private organizations, including the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Rural Development (MARNDR), the Faculté d'Agronomie et de Médecine Vétérinaire (FAMV), and the Ecoles Moyennes d'Agriculture (EMAs). The SARDP team also conducted an extensive review of the recent literature on key topics related to extension models, gender, value chains, and technologies that increase food production on target crops. The team began an inventory of regional stakeholders, service providers, and local governance institutions involved in development and agriculture. The SARDP team met with various organizations, including the CRDDs, MARNDR, FAMV, Quisqueya, and Episcopal universities, to provide a brief overview of the SARD project and explain the types of activities and partnership opportunities proposed for the project. These institutions shared information with the team and expressed their commitment and interest to work with the SARD project team. The SARDP team also met with Partners of the Americas to discuss the annual work plan and potential joint activities in year 1 of the project. The team identified and met with other potential partner organizations, including AKOSAA, to discuss potential collaboration on agricultural and nutrition extension in the FTF West Corridor. Overall, the SARDP is a collaborative effort to improve the agricultural sector in Haiti by strengthening and supporting Haitian institutions and increasing the availability of improved production technologies to farmers and the private sector.