HAITI - COLOMBIA - HELPS COFFEE GROWERS

COLOMBIA WILL HELP THE HAITIAN COFFEE GROWERS
(Haiti Libre) -

Colombia, in partnership with the IDB and the National Federation of Coffee Growers (FNC), announced Nov. 29th, on the sidelines of the forum "Invest in Haiti", its support to a cooperation effort in Haiti, to strengthen the Haitian coffee culture as an instrument of poverty reduction.

Led by the Multilateral Investment Fund, this program will benefit over 10,000 small farmers over a period of 3 years. Colombia will contribute an amount of US $120,000 aimed at mobilizing the technical capabilities of the FNC. The National Federation of Coffee Growers, which represents more than 500,000 peasant families in Colombia, intends to benefit Haitian coffee growers in the best practices of coffee production, reforestation and food security.

Luis Alberto Moreno, the IDB President, praised Haitian coffee, and expressed confidence about the opportunities that will bring to this cooperation agreement. For his part, former President Clinton, praised the choice of the FNC and the IDB to invest in coffee production in Haiti; that he considers as competitive in the international market.

The multinational company Nestlé, the largest food company in the world, in partnership with the IDB and the MIF will provide for free new seeds and seedlings to coffee growers in Haiti.

This cooperation is the second initiative of the Government of Colombia, which since 2010 has provided more than $4 million to the reconstruction of Haiti.