I Am Proof

Investing in underemployed youth in Haiti produces agropreneurs — and great results

Donald Joseph harvests plantain bunches from his farm established with USAID’s support in Limonade, Haiti. / Louis Orenest

For 28-year-old Donald Joseph, farming in his 0.40-hectare farm in the community of Limonade in Northern Haiti is his passion. While the young agropreneur had the dedication and even the land, he lacked the tools, training, and equipment necessary to thrive as a farmer. All of this changed when he began receiving support from USAID’s Feed the Future agriculture program called AVANSE.

Donald received production training and subsidies to purchase young plantain plants, fertilizers, and irrigation pumps.

Donald was dedicated to his farm, but lacked some of the tools he needed to take it to the next level — to become a true agropreneur. At right, he looks over his farm that was established with support from USAID. / Louis Orenest, Patrice Thomas

“I did not have the material to cultivate the land, and that was frustrating. I had water because of the river nearby, but did not have the irrigation pump to funnel this water to the farm,” he explains. “I can say that this farm would not be possible without the support of USAID.”

Today Joseph proudly harvests plantain, which his mother helps him sell at the local market. During May 2020 alone, he harvested over 150 plantain bunches, with an estimated net of 187,000 gourdes ($1,687.30).

For Donald, business is a family affair. Clockwise from top, left: Donald and his family in Limonade. Donald’s mother sells plantain to a neighbor. His father, with USAID support, grows young plantlets for sale. Donald helps his mother with cooking. / Louis Orenest

The full capacity of his farm is 540 plantain bunches per season, which can net him around 675,000 gourdes, the equivalent of approximately $6,750.

Donald proudly says: “This is the most money I’ve made all my life. Now I can have enough means to start providing for myself and for my family, to reinvest in the farm and expand.”

He also generously gives a portion of his harvest to neighbors who are in need. Donald’s dream is to help answer the food needs of his community, a need further aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic. With confinement measures in place, many people are unable to work, making it difficult for many to purchase food.

Donald gifts neighbor a plantain bunch. / Louis Orenest

USAID recently awarded $15 million to the UN World Food Program to provide emergency support to Haitians in need. But the individual efforts from people like Donald are also making a difference.

“I feel really proud and happy that I am contributing to feeding my people, especially now when food in our country is becoming really limited, and people cannot get what they need,” he says.

Donald’s irrigated farm. Water from the nearby river is extracted to irrigate his crops. / AVANSE

Donald encourages his peers to farm, and urges government entities and donors to further invest in farming and in agribusiness.

“Investing in youth yields great results, and I am proof of that, and so is the community,” he says. “Still, more youth need support. I ask the young men and women to work together, to combine efforts to cultivate the land so that we can respond to the urgent needs of our country.”

In supporting Haiti’s journey to self-reliance, USAID has assisted thousands of young people like Donald over the past year to acquire planting materials and equipment needed to farm. Many youth-led businesses, the majority of which are women-led, have received machines and training to establish and upgrade lasting agribusinesses.

Donald and other young farmers in Limonade. / Orenest Louis

About the Authors

Mariama Cire Keita is the Chief of Development, Outreach, and Communications for USAID’s Mission in Haiti. Patrice Thomas is an Agriculture Technical Specialist and Associate Project Manager.