Contribute to Long-Term Rebuilding in Haiti

Hurricane Melissa, one of the most destructive storms in recent memory, has left a trail of devastation across the Caribbean. It has affected Haiti particularly impacting the country’s agricultural sector. Farmers, who are the backbone of the nation’s economy, have been grappling with the destruction of their homes, fields, and livelihoods. The storm, which made landfall with powerful winds and relentless rainfall, resulted in catastrophic flooding that has decimated vast swathes of farmland, leaving many agricultural communities in ruin. For Haiti, an island nation that relies heavily on subsistence farming, the damage is far-reaching, threatening not only the food security of millions but also the long-term sustainability of the agricultural sector.

For farmers, the immediate loss was not just the physical damage to their properties but the destruction of their crops, which had been growing steadily until the storm. Fields that had once been filled with cassava, rice, and other staple crops were now nothing more than fields of mud and debris. The extent of the devastation meant that some farmers lost entire harvests, resulting in an immediate shortage of food supplies.

One of the many significant losses following Hurricane Melissa was in cassava farming. Cassava, a vital root crop that provides sustenance to many families in Haiti, was particularly vulnerable to the storm’s intense flooding. As the floodwaters surged, many cassava fields were submerged, leading to oversaturation of the soil. In such conditions, cassava plants’ roots—typically hardy and able to withstand a variety of environmental challenges—became susceptible to rotting.The soil, now saturated with excess water, created an anaerobic environment that promoted the rapid decay of cassava roots. Without the necessary air supply, the roots began to decompose, rendering the crops unharvestable.

Despite the overwhelming challenges, Haitian farmers are displaying incredible resilience and determination in their efforts to restore their land. Across the affected regions, farmers have been working tirelessly to clear their fields of debris, removing fallen trees, mud, and waterlogged plants in the hope of replanting. 

Replanting, however, is no simple task. The process is time-consuming and expensive. Farmers must not only clear the land but also invest in seeds, tools, and other resources, many of which are now in short supply. Even with such enormous effort, the recovery process is likely to take some time, especially as the country’s agricultural infrastructure remains fragile.

In the coming months and years, the true scale of Hurricane Melissa's impact on Haitian agriculture will continue to unfold. But for now, the immediate focus must be on providing relief to farmers and helping them rebuild their livelihoods. Only by addressing the needs of these farmers can Haiti hope to recover and ensure that its people have access to the food they need to survive. The road to recovery may be long, but with determination, collaboration, and sustainable solutions, there is hope for a brighter future for Haitian agriculture and its farmers.

COPADET, an organization that has requested assistance with their Cassava Production Project, has already managed to expand a cassava farm in the Torbeck area. The cassava farms have continued to address their community’s need for food and economic security. The farmers in the area use cassava as a means of commerce to sell in the Okai and Torbeck regions.

Lambi have assisted 39 farmers to establish 39 cassava fields. After the first harvest in the Spring of 2025, farmers continued with the second phase of cultivating which involved cutting the cassava from its stem to re-plant in the cassava farms. To further establish the fields, Lambi helped each farmer obtain 20,000.00 gourdes to carry out all their agriculture operations (purchasing of cassava plants, planting, weeding, managing pest and insects, and irrigating). The organization is aiming to exceed the number of cassava farms established. Although the floods of October 2024 presented a setback to organization plans, the farmers are dedicated to re-establishing the farms in this second phase.

The Lambi staff has prepared a meeting with Organization to discuss the challenges that it face and to propose solutions to aid the Organization to thrive. The areas of discussion include the most favorable period to plant cassava to minimize the likelihood of farms being destroyed by nature occurrences and pest management to reduce crop destruction caused by caterpillars and other insects. In addition, they will address sourcing suitable stems for re-planting and distribution in its third phase. COPADET strives to anticipate the challenges it may face to ensure that the Organization reaps a successful harvest in this second phase and farmers are able to continue into a third planting phase.