Events

RELEVANT NEWS

The Haitian earthquake has
brought a slew of issues that’
s common to poor states to
the forefront: food security.
In the last few decades, Haiti
has lost the means to feed
its own people.

Part of the problem can be
blamed on the
mismanagement of its land.
Another part is the
preferential treatment given
to export products, i.e.
sugar cane, tropical fruits,
on the best arable land,
instead of growing foods
traded in the local markets
for the masses.

The largest portions of Haiti’
s best lands produce crops
for export. Sugar cane is the
dominant export crop, but
tropical fruit and other crops
are grown as well. With most
of the very best land out of
production for local food
crops (beans, rice and
corn), the masses of people
do not have access to land
to grow food for eating or
selling on the local market.
Ironically, Haiti, a primarily
agricultural land, is a net
importer of food.
And due to rampant
corruption, and the tight
control of profits by elites,
there’s little trickle-down
effect.

The fight over food security
continues, Haiti shows us
what it’s like on the losing
end of it.

January 15, 2010 in INVESTORALIST