As part of its ongoing webinar series, the Haiti Food Systems Alliance (HFSA) hosted a public conversation last week focused on the transformation of Haiti’s agricultural and agri-food sectors. The virtual session brought together key voices from within the HFSA network, including Gaël Pressoir of Fondation Chibas, Winifred Ulysse of Acceso, and Cassandre Régnier of Sommit Education. Moderated by Paulinx Louis, the conversation aimed to explore what’s working, where support is still needed, and how collective action can move the food system forward.
The discussion centered around recurring challenges such as declining local production, rising food imports, and a fragmented value chain. Gaël Pressoir emphasized the need to modernize farming techniques and strengthen the link between producers and markets. He also called attention to the unintended effects of remittances, which often increase the demand for imported goods, putting local agriculture at a disadvantage. Pressoir advocated for the creation of producer, industry, and consumer associations to elevate the collective voice of the sector.
Winifred Ulysse highlighted the importance of strong value chains built through strategic partnerships. She argued that collaborative models lower production costs and improve competitiveness for local producers. Her intervention underscored the need to move from an aid-based approach to one driven by entrepreneurship and market access. Cassandre Régnier echoed those points, emphasizing the importance of promoting local consumption through structured programs like school canteens, which can create sustained demand for Haitian-grown food.
The speakers collectively called for greater involvement from the financial sector and better alignment from international organizations with the priorities of Haitian actors. They also stressed the urgency of building long-term strategies over the next 5 to 10 years, focused on investment in local transformation, commercial viability, and the rise of a new class of agro-entrepreneurs. Creating a shared space for dialogue and negotiation across the food system was presented as a critical step forward.
While the conversation reflected a range of perspectives, it reaffirmed a common goal: a more resilient, inclusive, and locally-driven Haitian food system. Through this webinar series, HFSA continues to provide a platform for open dialogue, learning, and collaboration across sectors—laying the groundwork for deeper partnerships and long-term transformation.
HFSA Òganize Yon Dyalòg Piblik sou Wòl Patenarya nan Ranfòsman Agrikilti ann Ayiti
Nan kad seri webinar li yo, Haiti Food Systems Alliance (HFSA) te òganize semèn pase a yon gwo konvèsasyon piblik sou transfòmasyon sektè agrikòl ak agwo-alimantè Ayiti.
Sesyon vityèl sa a te rasanble plizyè vwa kle nan rezo HFSA a, tankou Gaël Pressoir nan Fondation Chibas, Winifred Ulysse nan Acceso, ak Cassandre Régnier nan Sommit Education. Se Paulinx Louis ki te modere diskisyon an. Objektif te pou chèche konprann sa k ap mache, kote ki toujou bezwen plis sipò, epi kijan aksyon kolektif ka pouse sistèm alimantè Ayiti pi devan.
Diskisyon an te santre sou plizyè defi ki toujou ap repete tankou: dimansyon pwodiksyon lokal la k ap bese, ogmantasyon enpòtasyon manje, ak feblès chèn valè a. Gaël Pressoir te mete aksan sou nesesite pou modènize teknik agrikilti yo epi ranfòse lyen ant pwodiktè ak mache yo. Li te pale tou sou konsekans endezire lajan imigran voye bay fanmi yo, ki souvan ogmante demann pou pwodwi enpòte, sa ki mete agrikilti lokal la nan difikilte. Li te fè apèl pou kreye asosyasyon pwodiktè, endistri ak konsomatè pou ogmante pwa sektè a.
Winifred Ulysse te mete aksan sou enpòtans bati chèn valè solid atravè bon patenarya estratejik. Dapre li, modèl kolaborasyon yo ede diminye pri pwodiksyon epi ogmante konpetitivite pwodiktè lokal yo. Li te ensiste sou bezwen pou nou soti nan yon apwòch ki baze sou asistans pou nou ale nan yon modèl ki santre sou antreprenarya ak aksè sou mache.
Cassandre Régnier te konfime pwen sa yo, li te mete aksan sou nesesite pou ankouraje konsomasyon lokal atravè pwogram estriktire tankou kantin lekòl yo, ki ka kreye yon demann soutni pou manje ki sòti ann Ayiti.
Ansanm, oratè yo te fè apèl pou pi gwo angajman sektè finans lan, epi pou pi bon aliman ant òganizasyon entènasyonal yo ak priyorite aktè ayisyen yo. Yo te mete aksan sou ijans pou devlope estrateji alontèm pou 5 a 10 pwochen ane yo, ki santre sou envestisman nan transfòmasyon lokal, viabilite komèsyal ak leve yon nouvo jenerasyon agwo-antreprenè. Kreye yon espas komen pou dyalòg ak negosyasyon atravè tout sistèm alimantè a te prezante kòm yon etap kle pou avanse.
Malgre varyete opinyon ki te genyen, diskisyon an te konfime yon objektif komen: yon sistèm alimantè ayisyen ki pi rezistan, enklizif, ak ki chita sou kapasite lokal. Avèk seri webinar sa yo, HFSA kontinye bay yon platfòm pou dyalòg ouvè, aprantisaj, ak kolaborasyon atravè sektè yo—ap prepare tè a pou pi gwo patenarya ak transfòmasyon alontèm.