Haitian farmers call for 'food sovereignty'

Seed Daily via AFP: Hundreds of small farmers have converged on the central Haitian city of Hinche to demand more space to grow their own crops in a country that imports more than half of its food.

"Yes to land reform. Yes to environmentally-friendly agriculture," chanted the 300-some farmers gathered for the 40th anniversary of the Papaye Peasant Movement, a group aiming to promote "food sovereignty for the people. Forty years of struggle for social change. We want true land reform."

The high point of the summit is a march expected to see 40,000 farmers protest to air their grievances Friday. MPP leader Chavannes Jean-Baptiste strongly opposed the introduction of hybrid and genetically modified seeds from American giant Monsanto after the devastating 2010 earthquake that leveled much of Haiti.

"Farmers need to get the same consideration as all other Haitians. They must be respected and included in national decisions," he said. "We have to show that we are a force in Haiti."…

A cabbage field in Haiti, USAID photo