Home Economic empowerment of women through agricultural innovation in Haiti

Economic empowerment of women through agricultural innovation in Haiti

Published on

30 January 2025

In some regions of Haiti, persistent insecurity exacerbated by the pandemic has tested the community’s resilience. Although rural women account for 70% of Haiti’s agricultural workforce, the farming sector remains dominated by men, who own the majority of the land. However, it is women who bear the brunt of this situation: they often sacrifice their own meals to feed the rest of the family, and girls are frequently forced to drop out of school to contribute to the family income.

Indeed, women and youth experience higher levels of poverty due to a patriarchal social structure. Statistics show that in Haiti, 71% of women own neither land nor a house and that only 9% are property owners. Yet, if Haiti’s women farmers had equal access to productive resources, agricultural production could increase by almost 30%.

Faced with these challenges, the women of Baille Tourible found the strength to support each other and pursue their quest for autonomy. They developed an innovative project entirely managed by a committee made up of women: the creation of a goat-breeding social enterprise. At the heart of this initiative is the Association des femmes pour le développement de Baille Tourible (ASOFAB) (the Association of Women for the Development of Baille Tourible), which is composed of 65 determined women.

With the support of the Roncalli International Foundation, ASOFAB has brought this project to fruition, making it a symbol of economic autonomy and emancipation for the women of Baille Tourible. Thanks to the installation of a solar energy system and the reinforcement of the goat shelter, the women can envision a more secure and prosperous future for their families and community.

This project embodies the story of women who are working to transform their own lives, and build a better future for their families and society as a whole. When women control more of the family income, children benefit, as more is spent on food and education.

By investing in this project, the Foundation is not only contributing to the economic development of Baille Tourible, but also to the autonomy, dignity and resilience of women who are its key stakeholders.

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