Beans: A Key to Feeding and Enriching Haiti

The bean, essential to the Haitian diet and economy, was studied by a consortium of researchers as part of the Programme Intégré de Transition Agroécologique (PITAG), which closed in December 2024. This article summarizes the work on bean cultivation in agroforestry systems, presented by researchers at the three Journées Scientifiques organized by PITAG (2022-2024). Conducted by the CHIBAS-FSAE-CIAT-ORE-UniQ consortium, the researchers evaluated improved varieties (PR1423-153, Sankara/Azabache40, Lore 249) and techniques such as direct seeding and optimized fertilization in three zones: the Cayes plain (alkaline soils, drought), Kenscoff (acid soils, mountain) and Artibonite (clay soils, lack of phosphorus). Results showed tripled yields (1.8 t/ha) with drought- and disease-resistant varieties, and profits reaching 3899 USD/ha thanks to adapted fertilization (34 kg/ha N, 81 kg/ha P, 14 kg/ha K). Direct seeding at an optimum density of 200,000 pl/ha cuts costs in half, and farmers are choosing Sankara on the plains and Lore 249 in the mountains. These advances reduce dependence on imports (20%, 30.9 million USD/year) and food insecurity. However, access to seeds and fertilizers remains limited, particularly for female heads of household. E-PSi-CoRe, created by HaSci-So, urges the MARNDR to maintain the PITAG approach by strengthening the science-policy interface, training doctors, engineers, technicians and science journalists in agronomy, and funding agronomic research, the key to sustainable Haitian agriculture that is resilient in the face of hunger.