haitian agriculture solutions
TRANSCRIPT
Productivity and Entrepreneurial
Opportunities for Haitian Agriculture
The Case for Smallholder Farming Solutions
by the
BonTerra Group
25 October 2012
Current state• Agriculture is significant economic driver
• Majority of farmers have plots < 1.5 Ha
• Lack access to quality seed and inputs
• 80% of population lives in poverty
• Demand for food is expected to grow ~10-15 percent over the next five years
Government of Haiti Action Plan• Increase local production of staples to ensure food security
• Increase farmer’s income and create jobs in rural areas
• Increase foreign exchange earnings agricultural exports
• Reduce post-harvest losses by 50 percent in priority watersheds
• Improve health and nutrition of the Haitian population, especially the vulnerable
Background
Annual Farming Cycles
Seed Bed Preparation
Planting
Fertilization
Crop Protection
Harvest
Seed Bed Preparation
Planting
Fertilization
Crop Protection
Harvest
First SeasonCrops
Second SeasonCrops
Planting Overview
Slight misplacement
Ideal Planting
Hand Planting
1-2” in.
Conventional Planting
Uneven Depth
Uneven Spacing Skips Double Plant
Proper seed to soil contact, consistent plant spacing and even depth impacts emergence which impacts yield
Fertilizer Overview
1-2” in.
Proper fertilizer or pesticide placement impacts vigor
Inaccurate Fertilizer App
Flat Rate Entire Field
Ideal Planting
Hand Planting
Conventional Planting
Seed Tape:Low-Tech Tools for High-Tech Planting Precision
Seed Tape with Application Material
Seed Tape without Application Material
or
Like baler twine(Plants about ~0.5 Ha)
Seed Tape:Part of a Low-Cost, High Yield Farming Solution
• Two parts to seed tape solution• Seed tape “former”
• Stationary unit that meters seed and fertilizer into a “tape” that can be planted
• Seed tape row unit• Hand pushed row unit that embeds pre-made “tape” into the ground• Mechanical toolbar that embeds pre made “tape” into the ground
Seed Tape:Planting with Fertilizer
Major Impacts
Even Emergence Accurate Depth Even Spacing
Improved Seed-to-Soil Contact Proper Fertilizer Placement
Hand Planting
Hand Planting
Seed Tape
Seed Tape:General Impacts
• Grower Profitability• Higher productivity, improved input utilization, complexity reduction
• Social/Environmental• Improved agricultural ecosystem
Seed Tape:Off-Site Precision and In-Field Simplicity
• Economically increases crop production, yield, diversity and quality• Metering is done in a controlled environment
• Better seed spacing• Proper seed rate
• Forming and covering furrow more uniform (compared to hand)• Better seed to soil contact• Better seed placement
• Fertilizer and Chemical placed properly• Pre-Packaged tape can allow for better matching hybrids into emerging markets
• Economically delivers precision farming to emerging markets• Removing meter off site allows for lower cost application equipment• Have tape with various seed rates depending on soil type
Seed Bed Preparation
Planting
Fertilization
Crop Protection
Harvest Partner
Partner
Polyculture
Mobile Pasture
BonTerra Group
BonTerra Group:Integrated Farming Solutions
Seeds 4 The World:Opportunities for Entrepreneurship in Haiti
Final Specifications
Initial Specifications Feedback
& Revisions
CustomerPrototype
DesignPrototype
ProductionPrototype
Delivery& Support
Dec 2012 Feb 2013 Apr 2013 Jun 2013 Aug 2013
Production
Haitian Entrepreneurship
in Agriculture
Seeds 4 The World with Partners in Agriculture
BonTerra Group:Project Vision
• Deliver working prototype of seed tape planting solution in partnership with the government of Haiti
• Work closely with local farmers to implement solution on 50 Ha
• Monitor and measure field activities throughout growing season(s)
• Develop adoptable commercial planting solution