The colossal effort and money that will have to be directed to Haiti for its reconstruction is unimaginable. Organizations working in Haiti, whether they be government, NGOs, or the private sector, when it comes to planning for a more productive agriculture, reducing the impact of future disasters (more probably storm rather than earthquake damage), reducing the impact of flood and land slippage, stabilizing soil related infrastructure, improving the quality of water supplies, and cleaning up pollution, should look to the Vetiver System as part of the solution. Why?
- The pages on this blog site, The Vetiver Network International Website (TVNI), and the linkages from the website provide clear and proven demonstration of the effectiveness of the Vetiver System.
- Haiti's climate is ideal for rapid growth of vetiver grass and the stability that it provides.
- Haiti has for years grown vetiver for its aromatic oil, and is therefore widely known and available.
- The Vetiver System provides a low cost solution.
- The Vetiver System works well when communities are involved in its applications. Communities in other countries have shown that they can take ownership of the technology when properly trained and can organize successful VS programs.
- There are many bi-products that are income producing - bio fuel, handicrafts, thatch, and mulch.
- A major vetiver program in Haiti would provide significant employment opportunities both for on farm and public works.
- The Vetiver System can be introduced by any organization of whatever size, and is scale neutral.
- A Vetiver System program could be initiated rather quickly, thus providing new jobs.
TVNI would be pleased to provide through its network suggestions, advice, and proven and practical expertise. TVNI can be contacted by email.
Hello Dick My trip was cancelled to Haiti last week. I should have been planting a lot of vetiver now!
ReplyDeleteI was also planning on talking to a man who is working for USAID on a reforestation project and hopefully have had a seminar explaining the vetiver system to his group.
My mission was to concentrate on one large project area on a steep ravine. Rows of Vetiver alternating rows with Leucaena and Benzolive (Moringa). I was also bringing a bunch of varieties of improved citrus seeds to plant in a new large tree nursery, when old enough, graft branches to sour orange tree stock, which has more massive roots and grows well at least where there is a some moisture. If I ever get enough humus building behind the vetiver rows I want to try growing these trees and maybe avocadoes on the steep side hills.
I love the idea of rebuilding Haiti I heard talk of using the Marshal Plan!
But however they rebuild Vetiver along with the correct alley farming techniques should be a priority for Haiti's reconstruction plan!
Some how we have to get to people at USAID headquarters to make it mandatory for those working for them to incorporate Vetiver System into the program.
Richard,
ReplyDeleteI started this just before your email re Haiti arrived.
Just a few thoughts that could be important in the longer term for that country and others nearby.
From the latest reports (however valid they might prove to be - there is some contradiction in this item: http://www.scidev.net/en/news/stronger-hurricanes-predicted-for-around-haiti.html ) the islands north of latitude 20N can expect fewer hurricanes later this century, but those hurricanes will have higher wind speeds - up to 230km/hr. At those speeds few trees will remain undamaged.
Vetiver has great resistance to wind damage than trees and even if its leaves are shredded by winds of that speed the soil will not be disturbed, as it will be an uprooted and overturned tree. Nor will the vetiver roots be damaged (I assume!).
A combination of vetiver plus short rotation food bearing trees and/or food gardens would seem like the best combination to provide food while withstanding such hurricanes/cyclones, particularly on exposed sites.
This could be ammunition in any argument between foresters and vetiver advocates. At least protect the soil against extreme wind speeds by using vetiver - even if forestry in some form is used as well.
Clearly climate change adaptation is an acknowledged issue now:
http://www.scidev.net/en/opinions/countries-must-prepare-for-and-adapt-to-cyclone-im.html so we need to look at the advantages vetiver can offer the tropics in respect to this.
Regards
Don
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Don Miller
Agricultural Advisor
c/- PO Box 758
Port Vila
Vanuatu
mobile: +678 7769388
donmillernz@gmail.com