Developing Haiti—Agriculture

By purchasing raw materials in Haiti and sharing knowledge with farmers about how to improve their crops, we help develop markets and encourage production and growth. MFK agronomists work with farmers, helping to improve the quality of their peanuts and their yield. We bring information about modern methods of planting, cultivation and fertilizing, treating seeds to avoid fungus and toxins, and controlling weeds. Farmers are introduced to machinery and tools that make their work easier, and at the same time increase their yields.

Meet Jonas

Jonas, a farmer near Bas Limbe in northern Haiti, supports his family of six by raising and selling peanuts and corn and by doing whatever odd jobs he can pick up. His main ¼ acre garden of peanuts brings in about $300 per year. Like other farmers in the area, Jonas struggles to produce the amount and quality of peanuts that MFK requires for our Medika Mamba factory, because his education and resources are limited. Over the past three years, Jonas has become an informal representative of MFK to the farmers in the area. In addition to helping with seed purchases and exchanges, Jonas has worked side by side with our agronomists in a demonstration plot, preparing the beds, weeding and harvesting.

What do you get with an acre?
Haitian peanut yields are about 1/5 those in the United States. A peanut farmer in Georgia can grow nearly 3,000 lbs of peanuts on an acre; a Haitian farmer grows only 700 lbs on the same amount of land.

It’s Nuts!
Meds & Food for Kids now purchases more than 60 tons of peanuts annually from local farmers.

Peanut Pals
Our partnership with the American Peanut Council connects to help and expertise from U.S. peanut growers.