Historical efforts to increase the incorporation of agricultural commodities from Haiti to the global market in the 1900’s along with natural disasters in the area irrevocably undermined local food systems, leading to significant food insecurity. Perceptions surrounding locally grown food have also shifted, resulting in many Haitians believing internationally grown food to be superior to local food. Prior to outlining intervention strategies to reduce food insecurity, there is a need for census data collection in Haut-Limbé, Haiti to outline population demographics, food and water sourcing, and food expenditure.
Census data was obtained via a door-to-door survey by an international partner in Haiti. Funding was obtained to hire additional trained workers to assist with data collection. The survey was completed with verbal questions off of a standardized form from each household in Haut-Limbé. Answers were recorded and then summarized for population level data.
Census data collected from Haut-Limbé in Spring of 2023 demonstrated an estimated population of 10,887 individuals in 2,131 households. 57.25% of the population is female, 42.75% of the population is male and 39% are under the age of 18. On average, each household spends approximately 1935 Gourds (approximately $14 USD) per day on food. Additionally, households in Haut-Limbé get their food from a variety of locations. 23.3% obtain the majority of their food from their gardens or local markets, 59.7% obtain their food locally or from the town of Limbé (approximately 4 miles away) and 17% obtain the majority of their food from >17 miles away. Additionally, only 21.3% of households drink clean water alone, while 75.6% drink a combination of clean and unclean water.
Census data collected from this rural Haitian town demonstrates a young population that primarily obtains food locally with significant amounts of money utilized on food spending. This data informs future projects in that interventions should be primarily directed towards local food markets and should aim to reduce average daily spending per household. Future directions could include interventions providing increased availability of accessible food and clean water and addressing misconceptions among Haitians about locally grown foods.
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