By Marie Marthe Saint Cyr | Executive Director
September is a time of contemplation that starts with the last harvest. For farmers in Haiti, their revenue comes with the harvest divided in parts: One part is seed for the planting season coming; one part for the general functioning of the home; one part for the education and health; if anything yes saving may be buy a goat or a cow that is the banking for the future. Any part of the goal for sustainable agriculture and alternative economies which are two of the priorities of the Lambi Fund in partnership with rural farmers, strategies to increase income or revenue, and create employment are critical to our long term sustainability goals.
The partnerships create income and revenue in two ways: Microloans and employment generated through the organizations’ projects.
Since January 2014, 5 new organizations have provided loans ranging from HTG (gourdes) 5,000 to 15,000 to 564 members to reinforce their small enterprises. They include a very diversified businesses: small local restaurants, selling basic necessities like toothpaste, body and hair care, stocking beans for marketing as supply and demand fluctuate. Products sale fluctuate with the season for now, it is school supplies that fills the tables of the small merchant. The loans are repaid at a 2% interest, re-invested in the organizations and maitaining the revolving aspect of the small credit.
The projects create opportunities for employment. The 26 active projects hire 52 nursery hands who are trained to assist the organization in its goal to plant 20,000 trees. As members of the organization, they will continue to plant and focus on the environment after the project. MOPDAD in its project to irrigate 30 acres of land hires 4 pump operators to provide the service upon request. The center for plantain propagation not only hire agronomist but also garden helpers to assure the well-being of over 6000 plantain trees harvested this year. In all 79 trained individuals and professionals have secured work permanently due to the sustainability of the projects.
In all, the partnership of the Lambi Fund with peasant rural farmers have provided employment to 643 persons and provide long lasting training in the various field they represent.
For these families, September has been easier to bear in a nation where the price of education has skyrocketed since the eathquake and the destruction of some many educational institutions and the lost of so many teachers.
The continued development of employment and alternative enterprises is supported by the donors who through their generosity has made the projects of the Lambi fund in partnership with rural peasants possible.
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