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Haiti

Farmer Profile — Adisson Toussaint

Adisson Toussaint arrived in Massachusetts from Haiti in 2004 with a Degree in Agricultural Science. Since his arrival, he has worked as a machine operator, package handler – and now as a farmer. Adisson graduated from the New Entry Farm Business Planning Course in the spring of 2008. He currently farms at Smith Farm, located in Dracut, MA.

In Haiti, Adisson graduated from the Henri Christopher University with a B.S. in Agricultural Sciences. Adisson managed a cooperative farm association where he worked with other members of his community and used cattle drawn plows to grow grain, peanuts, and assorted vegetables. He traveled to Cuba to study sustainable agriculture and returned to Haiti to share his newly gained knowledge with his association colleagues.

Adisson now operates AdSaint Farm, which provides fresh, organic vegetables and foods to promote good health. Adisson gets help from his high school daughters who assist with his production of lettuce, cabbage, beans, tomatoes, eggplant, carrot, and broccoli. Adisson is careful to grow several lettuce and tomato varieties in order to minimize his risk. His biggest challenge is finding the time to juggle the demands of his full-time job, his family and his farming.

As the son of a farmer, Adisson is pleased to practice agriculture in the U.S.

Country Facts

Haiti holds the distinction and pride of being the first post-colonial independent black nation. In addition, the country’s transition to independence (from France) was a result the first successful slave rebellion in the Western Hemisphere. Plagued by political violence for most of its history, Haiti finally inaugurated a democratically elected parliament and president in May of 2006. Still, Haitian economy continues to rely on foreign aid. Currently, Haiti is the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere. French colonial influence can still be seen in the official languages of Haiti, French and Creole.

Location: between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic
Capital: Port-au-Prince
Area:27,750 sq km
Climate: tropical; semiarid in the eastern mountainous region
Terrain: rough and mountainous
Land Use: Arable land 28%
Population: 8,924,553
Life Expectancy: 57.6
GDP per capita: $1,300
Under 5 mortality rate (per 1000 live births): 62
Ethnic Groups: black 95%, mulatto and white 5%
Languages: French (official), Creole (official)
Major Religions: Roman Catholic 80%, Protestant 16%, none 1%, other 3%
Note:roughly half of the population practices voodoo

Agriculture

Almost a third of land in Haiti is considered suitable for cultivation. Haiti is unique in that subsistence farmers employ arboriculture, replacing the traditional grain crops with fruit trees and roots. The varied elevations allow for cultivation of diverse crops like coffee, bananas, and cotton.

Agriculture Products: coffee, mangoes, sugarcane, rice, corn, sorghum; wood

Traditional Foods

Haitian cuisine is a fascinating combination French, African, and Caribbean elements. Like many Caribbean dishes, Haitian food tends to be mildly spicy, and rice and beans is found in many meals. The African influence of Haiti’s history can be found in the common usage of yams, cassava, and maize.