Post-Quake Revitalization Plans Collide in Haiti's Breadbasket

By NATHANIAL GRONEWOLD

Published: March 8, 2010

Hannah Boomershine

http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2010/03/08/08greenwire-post-quake-revitalization-plans-collide-in-hai-15994.html?scp=6&sq=farming&st=cse

Summary-

The farm economy in Haiti has been slipping in the past twenty years. They have gone from easily feeding themselves to depending on imports, and the recent earthquake has only worsened the situation, especially in rural areas. Farmers were usually unsuccessful from hurricanes and tropical flooding, so times are even tougher now after the disaster there. Unemployment in rural Haiti stood at 80 percent before the quake, so things have drastically gotten worse in the aftermath of everything. They are currently working on making a plan to re-build a smaller capital of Port-au-Prince and increasing employment in rural farming areas through tree planting, the building of dams, construction of roads. This will allow money to the farmers and also help the environment. It is important that Haiti can rebuild the farming economy and be less dependent on imports.

Connection-

This article connects to the Great Depression, a time when many farmers faced hard times from an ailing economy and a naturally-occurring drought, destroying crops. The farmers of Haiti have faced similar situations with crops destroyed by hurricanes and the recent earthquake. The rural areas have been especially hurt with unemployment, just as millions of Americans experienced during the 1930s. Finally, the plan of action for helping the people of Haiti resembles FDR’s New Deal on a smaller scale.

Questions-

1) Why are Haitian farmers facing tough times?

2) What steps would you take to rebuild Haiti’s farm economy?

3) Why would a smaller, more stable capital be a better reconstruction idea?

My Answers-

1) Haitian farmers are facing tough times from a declining farm economy in the past twenty years. Tropical flooding and hurricanes are a constant threat to farmers, not to mention the catastrophic earthquake that has literally shaken the lives of citizens living in rural farming areas.

2) I would encourage Haitians to return to farming to boost the crops and to help support the county, meaning creating less of a dependency on imports. Providing incentives to Haitians to farm again after the earthquake could include paving roads, planting trees, and whatever it takes to help rural unemployment.

3)  Since the original capital was on a fault line, it was devastating when so many people were living there. In fact, many farmers had moved to the city after they had given up on farming. By creating a smaller, more stable capital, such a disaster can be less catastrophic.