Diagnóstico dos sistemas agrícolas no município Pont-Tamarin-Gonaives, Haiti: caso da zona I.

Abstract

This dissertation is the result of field research carried out in the Pont-Tamarin region, more precisely in Zone I, in the commune of Gonaïves, Haiti. In fact, forty- two farmers from four localities in Zone I participated in this research as respondents to the study questionnaires. The objective of this study is to diagnose the agricultural systems of the Pont-Tamarin region, in Zone I, and to highlight the parameters and practices that may or may not influence the sustainability of the agricultural systems in the study region. For this reason, field visits were carried out to different farms and questionnaires were applied, adapting an exploratory methodology. The results of this research allowed us to confirm that leeks, carrots, rice, corn, sorghum, beans, beets, eggplant, peppers and tomatoes are the main crops in this region, accompanied by breeding by a minority of farmers. In view of the study data, we see that the agricultural practices adopted in this region pose a threat to the sustainability of the region's agricultural systems through the presence of certain farmers who adopt conventional agriculture, despite the presence of some organic and transitional agriculture. Furthermore, despite everything, farmers are aware of the systems adopted and cannot fail to adopt conventional agriculture for economic reasons and to respond the market demand, contrary to organic farmers. In conclusion, the improvement of the agricultural sector in the municipality of Pont-Tamarin depends on the action of the public authorities in terms of technical support and training to move towards ecologically sustainable agriculture in the study region, because farmers alone will not be able to achieve the minimum conditions for sustainable agriculture and a better quality of life.