Guidelines for Implementing Partners on the USAID Environmental Mitigation Report (EMR)

As part of this initiative, equipment will be provided to CETAI Arcahaie S.A. for the processing of potatoes and plantain into chips and other products. The project will be located in the commune of Arcahaie, specifically in the First Communal Section of Boucassin, Habitation Thomas, at an altitude of 62 meters above sea level. The facility will be situated on a 4-hectare lot, upstream of the irrigated perimeter, and about 1,100 meters from the main road, Route Nationale No.1. The area receives approximately 900 mm of mean annual rainfall, with 80% of the annual rainfall occurring during the rainy season from April to November. CETAI Arcahaie S.A. will construct the agro-processing facility with its own funds, and the building will house space for two other production systems, an administrative block, a cafeteria, and sanitary facilities for a maximum of 200 employees. The facility will be managed by three major investors who have proven successful experience managing similar types of agro-processing facilities for 10 to 23 years in Florida. They will provide the required training and technical assistance to their employees. The equipment to be provided by FTF-West/WINNER includes a combined plantain/potato chips line with washing and peeling station, slice and cutting station, hydro-extractor, blanching station, fryer, de-oiling machine, flavoring machine, and packing system assembly with accessories. Additionally, a pre-fabricated 18' DIA, 185-207MT complete galvanized silo with loading and unloading screw conveyors, center agitator, de-humidifier unit assembly, diesel generator, inverter assembly, and propane gas boiler will be provided. The expected results of the project include COPACMA becoming a protected minor shareholder in CETAI Arcahaie S.A., agricultural producers members of COPACMA having vested interests in the agro-processing unit, farmers in the Matheux corridor having a secure market for their banana, bean, corn, and potato production, and CETAI Arcahaie S.A. contributing to the economic growth of the commune of Arcahaie, thereby improving livelihoods. The environmental situation in the area is characterized as degraded dry forest with sparsely dispersed native prickly shrubs. The area is irrigated by the Matheux and Courjolle rivers, and the climate corresponds to a subtropical dry forest according to Leslie Holdridge's matrix of life zones. A disposal plan for used fryer oil filters has been developed based on Illinois EPA recommendations. The project will be managed by FTF-West/WINNER, CETAI Arcahaie S.A., and COPACMA, with the support of WINNER's technical assistance. The project will be funded by FTF-West/WINNER, with CETAI Arcahaie S.A. covering the training aspect and COPACMA providing the agricultural production aspect. The project will serve as shares to be held by COPACMA and its members, representing 18% of the investment.