If you’ve just arrived here from Scientia Pro Publica, welcome. We’re never quite sure where we fit in the overall “science” matrix. Agronomy is science, sure, and so is plant breeding, mostly, and GMOs well, obviously. But stuff like making better use of agrobiodiversity often sits uncomfortably with people who want simple solutions to problems that they see as simple too. Not enough water? Irrigate! Saline soil? Breed saline tolerance! Missing vitamin A? Engineer it into a staple!
So it was interesting to find Eric Michael Johnson’s analysis of policy options for Haiti at the latest Scientia Pro Publica. The main thrust seems to be that rewarding Haitian farmers for good behaviour rather than punishing them for bad is more likely to have the beneficial impacts sought as Haiti struggles back from disaster. Trouble is, the policy analysts seems to think that using high-tech seeds and more fertilizer are the best good behaviours to incentivize; there are other options, you know. And as Johnson points out, the government of Haiti is not allowed to subsidize its farmers, not even for seeds and fertilizer. This is nuts. So is Mauka to Maui’s wonderful story of The ant and the toad, in a good way. ((Congratulations too on being nominated for a Research Blogging Award in three whole categories.))
Thanks for the kind words about my Haiti post. I enjoyed yours as well. You might also be interested in my other piece that was recently reposted at Haiti Rewired.
Your link didn’t include the URI. Was it this post?
Interesting post on Haiti. I’m sure you are right about the existence of good alternatives to subsidies for “high-tech seeds and fertilizer”, Jeremy. Participatory breeding and enhancement of informal seed systems are concepts that spring to mind, but I’d like to know more. E.g. do you know of longer term development assistance equivalents to the Seed Vouchers and Fairs approach used in emergency aid?
And does anyone know how the Haitian government has planned to do what they say they will if FAO manages to raise the funds they need? “The Haitian government estimates in its blueprint around $32 million is needed now to buy urgent seeds, tools and fertilizers for farmers so that they can begin planting in March for the spring planting season which usually accounts for 60 percent of Haiti’s agricultural production.” Most likely old approaches like seeds and tools distribution in the short term, and “high-tech seeds and fertilizer”for the longer term still prevail at this scale –or maybe not?