Improved weather favors the growth of crops

Rainfall conditions continue to improve in all agro-ecological zones of the country. This favors the development of sorghum, groundnuts and maize that are in heading phase and pigeon pea that maintains its normal vegetative cycle, while roots and tubers are growing or been harvested in certain areas. 

Bean harvests, as well as land preparation and seedling activities, have begun, while banana and yam harvests are continuing. In the lower Artibonite, rice is being harvested and, in the Sud, rice farmers are harvesting and transplanting the rice, which shows good production outlook.

Despite the resumption of agricultural activities, demand for labor is struggling to recover from the impact of the drought. However, non-agricultural sources of income remain relatively normal, except in areas recently affected by the October 6 earthquake. Between August and September, local maize and black bean as well as imported rice prices showed a slight increase of 1 percent and remain above the five-year average.

Most regions will be in Minimum food insecurity (IPC, Phase 1) or Stress (IPC, Phase 2) until January 2019; some households affected by drought, particularly in the Nord, Nord-Est and Ouest departments, if they do not fully recover from previous shocks, could end up in crisis (IPC, phase 3).