FORT-LIBERTE—  Daloune Saint-Hilaire, a young farmer in Haiti’s northeast region, begins her mornings long before sunrise. In the predawn hush, she makes her way to the fields she has tended for years, growing beans, okra, corn, bananas, and cassava to sustain her family and community. On her 

family-run farm in Haut Bino a communal section in Plaine Maribaroux, each season comes with struggles and hope—echoed in the worn tools she wields and the tradition-bound farming methods she relies on.

For years, farmers like Daloune have faced daunting obstacles to selling their produce in local markets, as Haiti’s escalating gang violence has restricted travel and disrupted commerce. With the World Food Program’s (WFP) recent initiative to purchase local produce directly from farmers, however, a new opportunity has emerged.

“We work so hard in these fields, but it’s tough selling at local markets,” Saint-Hilaire shared, her eyes bright with cautious optimism. “Now, with the WFP program, we can sell faster and focus more on growing.”

A lifeline for farmers and schools alike

The WFP, a global leader in food security, has launched a program in Haiti to purchase up to 9,990 tons of local produce. This effort not only supports struggling farmers but also supplies school meals to approximately 15,000 students across 200 schools in the Northeast department. With this plan, WFP aims to increase the income of farmers like Daloune and improve the nutritional quality of school meals.

“This decision is a win for both farmers and students,” explained Paul Ilfrene, a WFP program representative in the Northeast. “Local food purchasing strengthens our farmers while making it possible for children to eat nutritious, fresh meals.”

“As a farmer, I am proud to see our produce used to feed the children in our community. This gives us hope to keep farming”

Rosenie Charles, a farmer and produce trader.

Funded by the USDA, Inter-American Development Bank, and the WFP, and supported by Haiti’s Ministry of Education, this initiative promises a reliable market for small-scale farmers and eases the financial burden of transporting foreign goods for school canteens, often disrupted by security challenges. It also reduces the dependency on imported goods. Schools in three departments—North, Center, and Northeast—are participating in this program. The initiative is part of a broader school meal expansion across the three departments, with 159 schools in the North, 192 in the Center, and approximately 200 schools of the 665 schools in the Northeast department set to benefit from the program.

Fresh, Local, and nutritious meals for growing minds

At the launch event in Ouanaminthe’s Universe College auditorium, on Oct.18, students dressed in school uniforms—from pink checks to navy blue—gathered to see the locally grown produce they would now find on their plates. Bananas, papayas, and leafy greens, alongside staple crops like cassava and yams, were displayed to showcase what will soon fill their school lunches. The meals are balanced and designed to meet children’s nutritional needs, incorporating local flavors in traditional recipes.

“As a farmer, I am proud to see our produce used to feed the children in our community,” said Rosenie Charles, a farmer and produce trader, who expressed her pride in contributing to the program. This gives us hope to keep farming,” Charles said.

“When hunger and malnutrition affect our children, it affects their entire development,” said Luma Demetrius, Mayor of Ouanaminthe. “The poor exam results we’ve seen are proof of that.”

The reliance on imported goods for school canteens has long posed nutritional issues for students, with meals often centered around rice, corn, and wheat, and lacking in fruits, vegetables, and protein. But under the new program, schools in the Northeast will now receive locally sourced bananas, spinach, rice, cassava, carrots, peppers, cabbage, and more. This shift means more balanced, culturally relevant meals for students.

“The products provided to schools are sometimes so poor in quality; we should throw them to the fish instead of giving them to kids,” Démetrius said “When the rice is boiled, children won’t eat it because it’s just that bad. We need fresh, nutritious meals for them.”

For many of the country’s schoolchildren, school-provided meals may be their only chance to eat a warm, nutritious meal that day. The lack of feeding programs has only intensified in remote areas where poverty is rampant and infrastructure is limited. Officials believe that the initiative can help tackle both hunger and absenteeism, encouraging families to send children to school.

“School meals are an investment in our children, in Haiti’s future,” remarked Charles Henry Juste, a Ministry of Education cabinet member.

Education Director Edgard Joseph Dumay said that schools registered in the program operate under different models: most will use the old system, around 20 will implement a hybrid model, and a select few will rely exclusively on local products.

Transforming local economies while empowering farmers

The program’s impact goes far beyond children’s lunches. For local farmers, this program has proved transformative. The WFP’s commitment to purchase from the Movement for the Orientation of Agricultural Producers in Haut Maribarou in Ouanaminthhe, allows small-scale farmers to sell their crops at fair prices, giving them a stable market and improving their income. Before this, farmers often struggled to compete with the influx of low-cost, imported goods from the Dominican Republic.

“Farmers can finally count on a stable income,” said Altheus Louis, coordinator of the Movement. “This enables them to plan their finances better and invest in their operations.”

Through this program, the WFP will purchase approximately $17.5 million in produce from local farmers, providing a much-needed boost to Haiti’s agricultural sector. For the first time, these farmers have a dependable source of income and support for improving their production techniques. Many plan to invest in organic fertilizers, quality seeds, and modern gardening tools to diversify and increase their output.

 “I used to spend a lot on transportation just to sell my goods. Now, I don’t have to travel to Saint-Raphaël, said Charles, also a produce trader who participates in the program’s launch. I’ll encourage other producers to join this effort.”

For farmers who previously had to accept rock-bottom prices or risk the long journey to urban markets, this guaranteed supply contract provides a new level of financial security. By committing to buy local produce, the WFP ensures a stable market for Haitian farmers, who are now better positioned to compete despite the presence of cheaper Dominican imports.

Building a more resilient future

With more local produce in circulation, schools, farmers, and local economies all stand to benefit. The program allows farmers to reinvest in their businesses, strengthens food security for Haitian communities, and promotes school attendance by providing students with nutritious meals. In many cases, schools without canteens see lower attendance and retention rates, as hungry children struggle to concentrate or must stay home to help their families with food needs.

Under the new WFP initiative, farmers are organizing themselves to register for the program, improving agricultural practices along the way. Together, they’re helping to meet the immediate needs of their communities while laying the groundwork for a more resilient agricultural future in Haiti.

“Now we have a market that guarantees, even with competition from Dominican imports, farmers can sell their harvest,” Louis said.

Farmers in Maribaroux, buoyed by the WFP program’s success, are increasingly organizing themselves to adopt better practices and supply more schools. The program’s broader economic impact means families can keep more of their income within the community, fostering local development while enhancing food security.

“School meals are a policy of social equality that ensures all children can focus on learning,” Juste said.