Seed System Security Assessment, Haiti

This report documents the impact of Haiti’s 2010 earthquake on farmers, and highlights chronic problems in the agricultural sector that could impede recovery. This document reports on a comprehensive seed system security assessment (SSSA) in Haiti, undertaken in May-June 2010. The work, the first ever SSSA in Haiti or the wide region, assessed the impact of the January 2010 earthquake on households and agricultural livelihoods, examining possible changes in assets, land holdings, labour availability, income generation activities, crop profiles and seed use. The work analysed acute seed security issues, particularly farmers’ strategies for obtaining seeds, and the impacts of past emergency seed aid. More chronic seed security problems were also analysed, including the effectiveness of markets (which provide 80% of seed in Haiti), the transformation of agricultural products, and access to modern varieties.