Living Hope Mission's Agricultural Development Project has continued to work to serve the poor farmers of Haiti by providing them with resources and information so that they can grow more and better food. The year of 2005 provided new opportunities as well as challenges. The political instability in Haiti in particular posed a challenge. Gathering groups of people during times of unrest is difficult as is travel to remote locations. Despite the increased difficulty in meeting with farmers, the work continued. Here are some of the highlights:

The director of LHM's Agricultural Development Project, Jacques Saintelus, hosted his radio program, "Coin de l'Agriculture" ("Agricultural Corner") two times weekly on Cap-Haitien's Christian radio station, 4VEH throughout the year. He used his air-time, for the most part, to respond to listeners' questions. He also used his air-time to educate listeners on public health issues such as rabies and anthrax. Some examples of subjects discussed were: Don't Mistreat your Pack Animals, How to Recognize and Avoid Rabies, How to Help Your Animals When They have Trouble Delivering their Young, The Different Kinds of Digestive Systems in Different Kinds of Animals, How to Help Your Animals Get through the Drought, etc. Questions were sent from all over Haiti by way of letters to the radio station. Jacques also uses his radio show to notify listeners of special meetings that are planned in their area, particularly vet agents who are being invited to continuing education at Hope Center and fish farmers who are being invited to meetings of the Fish Farmers Association of North Haiti meetings.

In the year 2005, we focuses our training efforts in three main areas:

1. The parents and children at Centre Vision de l'Espoir (LHM's nutritional rehab center).
2. Children in the Primary School at Pister.
3. Fish Farmers in the North of Haiti.

The parents and children at Centre Vision de l'Espoir benefited from training with Jacques regarding care of goats which their children received from LHM. The parents also participated in the establishment of a fish pond on the property of the center. Parents were taught the basic principles of fish farming with Jacques and then joined together to dig the pond (some of the older children participated as well). The pond has been stocked and by the end of the summer was producing more tilapia that it could handle. A small channel was dug to allow water from the first pond to join water from another pond. Problems encountered were gaining participation from parents, and also people who were not part of the project fishing from the ponds at night. All in all, however, we consider this training a success, and are pleased that a new source of protein for these families has been found.

The children at the Primary School in Pister, near Limonade, participated in an Agriculture and Environment Class two times monthly with Jacques. Each child was provided with a text book, free of charge, which gives very basic information on plants and their care. A demonstration garden was planted in early 2005 and by the end of May, the children were able to have a party to enjoy the fruits of their labor. Cabbage, tomatoes, beets, etc. from this garden were also used by the cooks who prepare school lunches for the children. The main problem encountered in this location was heavy rain, which not only prevented Jacques from getting to the school (the road is impassable at times) but also caused some of the garden to fail. The children's enthusiasm, however, made the effort well worth it.

Thirdly, Jacques spent many hours in 2005 meeting with fish farmers here at Hope Center as well as traveling to visit fish ponds which have been established all over the north of Haiti. Many of the ponds were established in 2003 and 2004, after people participated in training sessions with Dr. Abe Valentine and Heifer Project Int. at Hope Center. Jacques visited approximately 50 of the ponds in 2005 and offered advice one to one to farmers who were having trouble. Many of the farmers did not dig the ponds deep enough, or had them choked with too many weeds. The proper balance of nutrients also needed to be discussed again with the fish farmers. Many of these farmers are making a small profit off their ponds. The main problems encountered had to do with getting a good water source and keeping out thieves. The Federation of Fish Farmers of North Haiti continued to try to acquire land in order to establish a large demonstration pond for training purposes. Jacques worked to prod them towards quicker action, and joined in all their meetings, which take place in the Gazebo here at Hope Center. The challenge with this group is getting them to work together and to remain focused.

In this past year, the main activity with regard to animal health training pertains to the parents and children of Centre Vision de l'Espoir. As mentioned above, in the summer of 2005, goats were distributed to the children. Parents are required to come regularly with the goats for them to be weighed as well as de-wormed. By early 2006, several families had already provided LHM with a kid to be shared with a new family (this is one of the conditions of receiving a goat from the project—the first offspring must be returned to the project to be given to another family).

In addition, Jacques continues to hold monthly vaccination campaigns against Newcastles in poultry, calling farmers on the radio to pick up vaccination from him one day a month in Vaudreuil.

Finally, in November 2005, a LHM and Heifer Project International began training a new class of Veterinary Agents. This class continues to have week long training sessions at Hope Center in 2006.
 

In the year 2005, the vet pharmacy at Hope Center, as well as Jacques pharmacy at Breda (in his home) provided many vet agents, and hundreds of small farmers with medicine for their animals. In addition, at Hope Center, many seeds were sold to local gardeners. In the end of 2005, a formal association was formed with Hope Seeds, wherein Hope Seeds would share space from Hope Center. Hope Seeds staff member would work side by side with the staff of Hope Center in promoting gardening and providing quality seeds to local farmers. This arrangement is working well in 2006.

LHM and its staff wants to thank all its supporters for your partnership with us in reaching out to the needy in Haiti. May God bless you as you are a blessing to us.

Submitted by Jacques Saintelus and Meg Merzilus.
 

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