VZCZCXRO3271
RR RUEHQU
DE RUEHPU #1314/01 2591949
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 151949Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8851
INFO RUEATRS/DEPTTREAS WASHDC
RUEHZH/HAITI COLLECTIVE
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1623
RUEWMFB/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J2 MIAMI FL
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM J3 MIAMI FL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 PORT AU PRINCE 001314 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/EX, WHA/CAR VDEPIRRO, S/ES-O/CMS 
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR, OFDA 
STATE PASS AGRICULURE 
TREASURY FOR ERIN NEPHEW 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM AEMR ASEC CASC KFLO MARR PREL PINR AMGT EAGR
EAID, ETRD, ECON, HA 
SUBJECT: STORM AFTERMATH IN HAITI: DEVESTATING AGRICULTURAL DAMAGE 
 
REF: PORT-AU-PRINCE 1307 
 
Summary 
-------- 
 
¶1. (U) This message is sensitive but unclassified -- please protect 
accordingly. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Summary: Flooding from four consecutive tropical storms and 
hurricanes has caused substantial damage to Haiti's agricultural 
sector and its overall food security.  The agricultural sector 
accounts for approximately 27 percent of Haiti's GDP.  Destruction 
of transportation arteries is exacerbating the effects of damage to 
croplands and livestock and accelerating the food inflation that has 
been underway since late last year.  The losses to this 
strategically important sector will further harm Haiti's 
already-strained economy and overall food security.  New Minister of 
Agriculture and Natural Resources (MARNDR) Joanas Gue has requested 
increased USG support to rebuild Haiti's agricultural sector.  The 
preliminary MARNDR damage estimate of USD 20 million is preliminary 
and partial and almost certainly will be revised upward.  USAID and 
other international donors are working to respond to the disaster. 
End Summary. 
 
Agricultural Damage Assessment and Food Insecurity 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
¶3. (SBU) Minister Joanas Gue told USAID staff September 9 that the 
flooding caused major damage nationwide to food crops such as rice, 
maize, beans and plantains - which were close to being harvested - 
as well as major damage to livestock.  Preliminary estimates 
indicate a 60 percent loss of spring crops (June to August) and the 
possible compromise of the autumn planting and harvest because of 
the lack of available seed.  Cabaret -- a significant supplier of 
plantains -- for example, lost many farms to the floods.  The 
Artibonite Valley, Haiti's traditional grainbasket, may have lost 
more than 20,000 hectares of rice production.  GoH preliminary 
report indicated that over 90,000 head of cattle, goats, swine and 
poultry were lost across the country, especially in the South-East 
Department. 
 
¶4. (U) The rural population has been significantly impacted by the 
hurricanes.  Preliminary reports indicate that approximately 150,000 
families (up to 800,000 people) have lost access to customary 
sources of food and reduced their ability to generate cash income. 
Standing maize, sorghum, bean, cassava, sweet potato crops, and 
banana plantations have been destroyed in at least 75 communes in 
the ten regions of the country.  The CNSA estimates that the floods, 
erosion and landslides have destroyed about 64,000 hectares of 
beans, maize, plantain, potato and sweet potato.  USAID assesses 
that these figures are severely underestimated, will require 
additional vetting, and almost certainly will be revised upward. 
These figures do not take into account the affected areas that 
remain inaccessible.  Crop and livestock damage directly and 
indirectly affects the entire population.  The abandonment of 
agricultural lands and forced displacement will worsen food 
insecurity in the months to come. 
 
¶5. (SBU) According to Minister Gue, agricultural infrastructural 
damage is most extensive in the Gonaives Plain (Artibonite 
Department), Bas Plateau Central, and Cotes du Sud (Note: Gonaives 
is approximately 100 miles south of Port-au-Prince and has a 
population of 250,000-300,000. End Note.)  Less extensive damage 
exists in the Grande Anse, the eastern part of the North Department 
and Plaine des Cayes.  Prior to the flooding, the Artibonite Valley, 
historically known for its plentiful production of rice and other 
food crops, possessed 18,000 hectares of rice land.  Gue believes 
that as much as 60 percent of production from these lands could be 
lost. 
 
¶6. (U) Gue's ministry on September 12 issued a preliminary 
assessment that put the dollar value of damage to the agricultural 
sector at more than 20 million USD.  In a statement accompanying the 
report, Gue gave a preliminary assessment of "several tens of 
thousands" of hectares of rice, banana, vegetable and fruit 
plantations devastated; 21 irrigation systems destroyed and others 
severely damaged.  (Note: Information on infrastructural damage has 
not been collected in the following areas: Artibonite Department, 
North Department, Nippes and Grand-Anse. End Note.)  The MARNDR 
estimates the damage at over 25 million Haitian Gourdes (USD 
 
PORT AU PR 00001314  002 OF 003 
 
 
625,000) in the assessed areas.  Gue also reported that the 12 
million USD invested in the GoH's fertilizer subsidy program after 
the April food riots was also probably lost. 
 
¶7. (U) Minister of Economics and Finance Daniel Dorsainvil announced 
on September 9 that the storms has seriously impacted the Haitian 
economy and would worsen food insecurity.  He noted that his 
ministry was revising growth estimates for 2008 downward to less 
than 2.5 percent as a result of the exogenous shocks from the 
hurricanes and rising prices of food and fuel. 
 
¶8. (U) Media have begun to report deaths of homeless victims in 
Gonaives, including at least two deaths due to hunger.  The 
agricultural losses are causing immediate increases in food prices 
in Haiti, notably in the North Department, La Gonave and Gonaives. 
Impassable roads and collapsed bridges are preventing the transport 
of goods between Port-au-Prince and the provinces, which provide 
local food products to the capital city.  Flooded road networks are 
also blocking access to local markets in rural areas.  The result is 
rising food prices in much of Haiti, exacerbating the food inflation 
that was already underway, and which was behind violent rioting in 
April that brought down the government. 
 
Government of Haiti's Response/Action/Next Steps 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
¶9. (SBU) The MARNDR's National Committee for Food Security (CNSA) 
will take the lead compiling a comprehensive report on the 
cumulative agricultural sector damage caused by tropical storms and 
hurricanes Fay, Gustav, Hanna and Ike and their impact on food 
security.  The CNSA report will be based on the information 
collected in household surveys and input from focus groups.  The 
report will include recommended plans for mitigating the damage 
caused by the hurricanes.  It is intended to guide donor and GoH 
recovery interventions in the sector.  The CNSA relies heavily on 
technical assistance support from USAID -- through the Famine Early 
Warning System mechanism (FEWS) implemented by Chemonics-World Food 
Program (WFP) and the UN's Office of Food and Agriculture 
Organization(FAO).  Minister Gue (MARNDR) seeks USG support for the 
following priority areas: 
 
-- Bean and corn seed for the next planting season in 
November-December.  Limited seed availability in Haiti makes imports 
a necessity.  (Note: To help Haiti cope after the April food riots, 
USAID/OFDA pledged 150,000 USD for emergency seeds and tools to 
enable 30,000 farmers to plant basic food crops in the 
November-December agricultural season. End Note.) 
 
-- Cash and Food for Work programs for clean-up and other 
rehabilitation/repair of major affected irrigation land.  Minister 
Gue specifically mentioned Plaine des Gonaives, Bas Plateau and Cote 
Sud as the highest priorities.  He added that the work done 
following Hurricane Jeanne in 2004 would have to be duplicated. 
 
-- Technical advisors to assist with planning, evaluation and 
monitoring, donor and partner coordination, and agricultural 
infrastructure; plus a watershed specialist and livestock 
specialist. 
 
¶10. (SBU) Minister Gue has requested an increase of the Ministry's 
budget of 12-15 percent, up from the normal request of 5 percent, to 
help rebuild agricultural infrastructure and boost domestic food 
production. 
 
Donor Community Response/Action 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶11. (U) The FAO announced it would contribute 10.5 million USD 
needed to rehabilitate agricultural production and combat livestock 
illness.  Five million USD will be used to rebuild the livelihoods 
of the farmers, two million USD to rehabilitate the irrigation 
network, and 3.5 million USD for emergency assistance to prevent 
clostridial diseases, classical swine fever and Newcastle disease. 
 
¶12.  (U) USAID has reprogrammed five million USD to assist in 
hurricane emergency response operations.  A USAID/OFDA team is 
working in partnership with the USS Kearsarge air and sea assets to 
improve access to the affected areas and accelerate ongoing food and 
water distribution.  The WFP will increase its food commodity stocks 
in the upcoming weeks with a preliminary Food for Peace contribution 
 
PORT AU PR 00001314  003 OF 003 
 
 
of 7 million USD.  USG humanitarian assistance to Haiti amounts to 
20 million USD to date. 
 
¶13. (U) Post will continue to monitor and report on agricultural 
damage and assessments. 
 
SANDERSON