Quarterly Report: Appui à la Recherche et au Développement Agricole (AREA) Cooperative Agreement

The project builds on the National Agriculture Investment Plan (NAIP), which outlines key interventions to improve the agricultural sector. The main goal is to increase the availability of improved production technologies to farmers and the private sector through effective extension and development of an agricultural innovation system. The initiative is based on five key principles: providing opportunities for Haitians to improve their lives, supporting training and innovation, mentoring agents of change, building stronger farmer organizations and agribusinesses, and fostering a culture of evaluation and accountability. These principles aim to create a sustainable agricultural innovation system for Haiti. During the first quarter of 2016, several accomplishments were made. Three Haitian researchers were hired to develop research programs reflecting the needs of the target region. An assessment of laboratory facilities was conducted to recommend a plan for establishing a plant disease diagnosis laboratory and network. A proposal and work plan for the legume breeding research program were developed, focusing on common bean, peanut, and pigeon pea. The social science team completed Phase One of the Service Provider Research Branch, compiling a list of 76 potential service providers operating in the Feed the Future West region of Haiti. They also developed the research instrument for Phase Two of this research and created an interview instrument for Phase Two of the Farmer Groups Research Branch. The instrument was tested on three farmer groups and revised to reflect the Haitian context. Additionally, an interview instrument was created and tested for Component A of the Higher Education Research Branch, which will be used to collect data from administrators and faculty in agriculturally related programs at six Haitian institutions. A presentation titled Ethics & the Researcher was translated into Haitian Creole, serving as an alternative training for researchers. The initiative aims to increase the adoption of proven technologies, propel the development of new knowledge and technologies, and generate knowledge, create process and product innovation, and extend information to farmers. The development of functional and sustainable systems requires building on existing models of success and forging linkages to national and international efforts already in place in Haiti.