Care for the Earth: Agriculture

The Agriculture Committee focuses on small farmers, families, and peasant organizations in the Gros Morne region to address food insecurity, animal breeding, soil erosion, and reforestation in the community.

MFOH-supported programs include:

 

 Reforestation
In past years, the mountains of Gros Morne were stripped of trees, which led to mudslides and avalanches during the annual heavy rainy seasons. The Agriculture program has planted hundreds of thousands of saplings on the mountains. The agronomists continue to guide large crews to plant saplings throughout the area. In lieu of the centralized tree nursery at Grepen Center, MFOH now supports multiple satellite tree nurseries that bring the saplings closer to the farmers in the region. In FY 2026, four new satellite nurseries were put in place, employing 40 farmers each. With a commitment of 5,000 plants per nursery, a total of 13 hectares of land will soon be covered with new vegetation—a vital step in restoring the forests of Gros Morne and building resilience against climate change
Soil Conservation
To protect the steep hillsides of Gros Morne from devastating top-soil loss, our agronomy team is working with local farmers to implement soil conservation techniques. By constructing dry-stone walls and planting hedgerows, we are trapping silt and preserving moisture, ensuring the land remains fertile for future generations.

Seed Bank
MFOH-supported agronomists have also shifted to decentralized seed banks. At the seed banks, bulk purchases of good quality, biodiverse seed are made when seeds are cheaper and then distributed to farmers, who then return a certain quantity to the seed bank after they harvest their crop. The seed bank has been a significant source of support for farmers in difficult situations, such as drought.
Sweet Potato Weevil Eradication
The agronomists work closely with local farmers on techniques for growing hearty crops. One of their goals has been to bring sweet potato production back to the high levels attained before weevils began damaging crops. Sweet potatoes are an especially important crop as they are a staple in the diet of most Haitians. The agronomists provide participating farmers with weevil-free shoots for the sweet potatoes, pheromone traps, and training to boost productivity.
Food Crops
MFOH-supported agronomists teach families how to plant and maintain productive vegetable plots for family food and marketable income. The climate—alternating between seasons that are very dry and then marked by heavy rains—necessitates instruction in water collection systems and management. The current focus is on yams – a very nutritious crop that can be grown without impacting other harvests – and weevil-free sweet potatoes.
Animal Breeding  / Family Enterprise Program
Our agronomists work side by side with families in Gros Morne who want to improve their lives through initiatives such as chicken and goat breeding. In Haiti, livestock serves as a “living bank account.” Our partners in Gros Morne recently established four new goat-breeding groups, providing 40 local growers with training and the immediate economic security of animal ownership. As these goats are bred, the future economic return allows families to grow their “savings,” providing a critical safety net for medical emergencies and other expenses. The team provides extensive training to the family in breeding, care, and shelter of the animals. In return, families give back some of the new offspring to distribute to the next set of families in the program.

 

The Agriculture team is one part of the Care for the Earth initiative. Click on the link below to learn more about Rainwater Harvesting.