Productivity and Entrepreneurial

Opportunities for Haitian Agriculture

The Case for Smallholder Farming Solutions

by the

BonTerra Group

25 October 2012

Current state• Agriculture is significant economic driver

• Majority of farmers have plots < 1.5 Ha

• Lack access to quality seed and inputs

• 80% of population lives in poverty

• Demand for food is expected to grow ~10-15 percent over the next five years

Government of Haiti Action Plan• Increase local production of staples to ensure food security

• Increase farmer’s income and create jobs in rural areas

• Increase foreign exchange earnings agricultural exports

• Reduce post-harvest losses by 50 percent in priority watersheds

• Improve health and nutrition of the Haitian population, especially the vulnerable

Background

Annual Farming Cycles

Seed Bed Preparation

Planting

Fertilization

Crop Protection

Harvest

Seed Bed Preparation

Planting

Fertilization

Crop Protection

Harvest

First SeasonCrops

Second SeasonCrops

Planting Overview

Slight misplacement

Ideal Planting

Hand Planting

1-2” in.

Conventional Planting

Uneven Depth

Uneven Spacing Skips Double Plant

Proper seed to soil contact, consistent plant spacing and even depth impacts emergence which impacts yield

Fertilizer Overview

1-2” in.

Proper fertilizer or pesticide placement impacts vigor

Inaccurate Fertilizer App

Flat Rate Entire Field

Ideal Planting

Hand Planting

Conventional Planting

Seed Tape:Low-Tech Tools for High-Tech Planting Precision

Seed Tape with Application Material

Seed Tape without Application Material

or

Like baler twine(Plants about ~0.5 Ha)

Seed Tape:Part of a Low-Cost, High Yield Farming Solution

• Two parts to seed tape solution• Seed tape “former”

• Stationary unit that meters seed and fertilizer into a “tape” that can be planted

• Seed tape row unit• Hand pushed row unit that embeds pre-made “tape” into the ground• Mechanical toolbar that embeds pre made “tape” into the ground

Seed Tape:Planting with Fertilizer

Major Impacts

Even Emergence Accurate Depth Even Spacing

Improved Seed-to-Soil Contact Proper Fertilizer Placement

Hand Planting

Hand Planting

Seed Tape

Seed Tape:General Impacts

• Grower Profitability• Higher productivity, improved input utilization, complexity reduction

• Social/Environmental• Improved agricultural ecosystem

Seed Tape:Off-Site Precision and In-Field Simplicity

• Economically increases crop production, yield, diversity and quality• Metering is done in a controlled environment

• Better seed spacing• Proper seed rate

• Forming and covering furrow more uniform (compared to hand)• Better seed to soil contact• Better seed placement

• Fertilizer and Chemical placed properly• Pre-Packaged tape can allow for better matching hybrids into emerging markets

• Economically delivers precision farming to emerging markets• Removing meter off site allows for lower cost application equipment• Have tape with various seed rates depending on soil type

Seed Bed Preparation

Planting

Fertilization

Crop Protection

Harvest Partner

Partner

Polyculture

Mobile Pasture

BonTerra Group

BonTerra Group:Integrated Farming Solutions

Seeds 4 The World:Opportunities for Entrepreneurship in Haiti

Final Specifications

Initial Specifications Feedback

& Revisions

CustomerPrototype

DesignPrototype

ProductionPrototype

Delivery& Support

Dec 2012 Feb 2013 Apr 2013 Jun 2013 Aug 2013

Production

Haitian Entrepreneurship

in Agriculture

Seeds 4 The World with Partners in Agriculture

BonTerra Group:Project Vision

• Deliver working prototype of seed tape planting solution in partnership with the government of Haiti

• Work closely with local farmers to implement solution on 50 Ha

• Monitor and measure field activities throughout growing season(s)

• Develop adoptable commercial planting solution