VZCZCXRO0467
PP RUEHQU
DE RUEHPU #1356 2681245
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 241245Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8892
INFO RUEATRS/DEPTTREAS WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHZH/HAITI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J2 MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM J3 MIAMI FL PRIORITY

UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 001356 
 
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: ASEC EAID EAGR ETRD ECON PGOV HA
SUBJECT: AGRICULTURAL DAMAGE UPDATE 
 
REF: A) PORT-AU-PRINCE 1314 
B) PORT-AU-PRINCE 1345 
 
¶1. (U) This message is sensitive but unclassified -*please protect 
accordingly. 
 
¶2. (U) This report is an updated interim assessment of damage to 
Haiti's agricultural sector following recent hurricanes. (ref A, 
B). 
 
¶3. (U) New Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources (MARNDR) 
Joanas Gue announced the week of September 15 that the agricultural 
sector suffered an estimated loss equivalent to USD 190 million that 
affected approximately 64,000 hectares of land.  (Comment: 
Agricultural experts note that this estimate does not include damage 
to banana/plantain-producing areas in Cabaret and Plaine de 
l'Arcahaie in the Western Department, where damage assessments have 
yet to be carried out.  End Comment).  Losses to Haiti's agriculture 
may eventually surpass those from Hurricane Jeanne in 2004, which 
are estimated at 265 million USD, or seven percent of GDP at that 
time. 
 
¶4. (U) Gue declared that USD 123 million would be needed over the 
next six months to revive agricultural production.  He identified 
four priorities:  reconstruction of agricultural roads; cleanup of 
riverbeds; restoration of watersheds; and rebuilding of irrigation 
systems.  These priority areas should guide reconstruction 
initiatives, which would provide employment and enable cash-starved 
Haitians to purchase food. 
 
¶5. (U)     Much livestock and seed in storm-affected areas has also 
been lost, guaranteeing sharp increases in food imports in the near 
future and increasing inflation.  Food imports represented 48 
percent of the overall food stock in Haiti before the storms. 
(Note: Haiti imported USD 295 million of food commodities from 
October 2007 through April 2008. End Note.)  The National Committee 
for Food Security (CNSA) notes that food imports could increase by 
15 percent because of the agricultural damage. 
 
¶6. (SBU) The North Department in Haiti was among the hardest hit by 
the August-September storms.  The Ministry of Agriculture's (MARNDR) 
North Department estimates a loss of USD 30 million in crops. 
Livestock losses there exceed USD 1.2 million.  The MARNDR has not 
yet released an assessment of the financial damage to farms/tertiary 
roads and irrigation systems that support the agriculture sector in 
the North Department. 
 
¶7. (U) Haiti's largest agricultural export sector, the mango 
industry, will book its November-December ''small'' growing season 
as a total loss due to damaged trees and fruit blown off of the 
trees.  Representatives from the Haitian Mango Exporters Association 
(ANEM) anticipate the larger mango season will get underway on 
schedule in February-March.  However, if key agricultural roads are 
not repaired by that time, the larger season could be jeopardized 
and substantially reduce mango exports to the U.S. 
 
¶8. (U) The MARNDR's National Committee for Food Security (CNSA) will 
take the lead compiling a comprehensive report in the next several 
weeks on cumulative agricultural sector damage caused by the 
tropical storms and hurricanes and their impact on food security. 
 
¶9. (U) Post will continue to monitor and report on agricultural 
damage, once additional assessments are completed. 
 
 
SANDERSON