ABOUT US
ABOUT US
ABOUT US
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ABOUT US
I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It’s easy. Just click “Edit Text” or double click me to add your own content and make changes to the font. Feel free to drag and drop me anywhere you like on your page. I’m a great place for you to tell a story and let your users know a little more about you.
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MISSION & VISION
The iF Foundation seeks to improve the health and well-being of families living in farming regions of Northern Haiti through the development and support of sustainable solutions aimed at poverty alleviation, education and economic development.
The iF Foundation intervention areas in Northern Haiti are home to over 60,000 people who live without access to running water or electricity, and 90-95% of the population survive on subsistence farming.
Since 2013, the iF Foundation has worked to improve the health and wellbeing of families living in the Milot, Plaine du Nord, Acul du Nord and St-Raphael Communes of Northern Haiti, three of which are located 15 miles outside Cap Haitien, Haiti’s second largest city, through the development and support of sustainable solutions aimed at poverty alleviation, education and economic development.
The iF Foundation reduces food insecurity for families through agricultural development, nourishment of children and the promotion and education of healthy lifestyles. The Foundation implements its interventions in partnership with the community, investing in sustainable local resource development.
DEVELOPMENT. OPPORTUNITY. HOPE.
Development.
iF Foundation provides development programs that enable disadvantaged people to lift themselves out of poverty by transforming their subsistence farms into sustainable businesses.
Opportunity.
iF Foundation provides farmers with opportunities through agricultural programs that provide interest-free loans and the step-by-step support they need to improve agricultural practices, increase crop yields and make farming more profitable.
Hope.
iF Foundation provides development programs that create opportunities and provide hope for a better future for impoverished farmers and their families.
MISSION IN ACTION
Building upon the
lessons learned...
...from the iF Foundation’s extensive economic development work in Haiti since 2007, we have embarked on an ambitious multi-year initiative to transform rural Haitian farming communities in the communes of Milot, Plaine du Nord, Acul du Nord and St-Raphael, which are home to over 60,000 people who live without access to running water or electricity. It is estimated that 90-95% of the population in this area survives on subsistence farming.
To access and view our 2020 Annual Report CLICK HERE
Agricultural Programs
Haitian farmers are the lowest yield producers in the Western Hemisphere, trapping them in survival mode, living from hand-to-mouth. Haitians are hardworking people and possess the determination and drive to build a better future for their families. The factors that impede these farmers are well-known: lack of good seed, no access to fertilizer, minimal mechanization, lack of technical assistance for identifying and solving common problems with plant disease, destructive insects and soil fertility.
The iF Foundation’s agricultural programs empower farming families to achieve economic independence through an innovative multi-faceted agricultural program. The Foundation is offering a solution to breaking the cycle of dependency, not a “handout.”
In discussions with members of the community, local producer groups and the Ministry of Agriculture, the Foundation has developed a strategy and vision that has four main components:
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Increase staple crop production (rice, corn, beans, peanuts) by offering credit for seed, fertilizer and land preparation, and technical assistance from planting through harvest
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Increase farm family revenue by introducing high-value crops such as tomatoes, hot peppers, bell peppers, cashew, mandarins, off-season avocado and export-grade mangoes
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Establish a commodity exchange to link farmers to other distribution channels, and introduce price and weight transparency to buying and selling
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Provide technical training to enable farmers to understand both the science and business of agriculture, so they can make informed choices regarding what to plant and when to plant
Our Farming Methods
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Improved Staple Crops
quality protein maize, rice, corn, beans and peanuts
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Compost and Vermiculture
using worms and laboratory testing to increase soil fertility
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Agricultural Research
separating iF from other organizations doing similar work
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Tree Production and Beekeeping
beekeeping and tree grafting to produce commercial quality trees
For additional detail about our agricultural program and farming methods CLICK HERE
Farming is a science, and lab testing is essential to cultivate safe, healthy soil and maximize crop yields. iF Foundation instituted its lab operations in 2014, originally running two labs in two different locations, one mycotoxin lab (originally supported by the PMIL program) and one soil lab. In December of 2019, the Foundation began construction on another facility on the site of its technical center, to consolidate its lab activities into one location. This new facility has been operational since February 2020.
Soil testing consists of soil chemistry tests and soil microbiology tests. The chemistry analyzed include macronutrients (N,P, K, Mg, Ca), pH, conductivity, and organic matter, while the microbiology testing is a characterization of the microbial population in the soil. Soil testing is essential in identifying issues with soil health, which is used to propose solutions to local farmers for improving their soil fertility.
In addition to mycotoxin testing, we do germination and moisture testing. Germination testing is utilized to establish the quality of the seeds provided within the agricultural program prior to distribution. Aflatoxin tests are critical to ensure food safety for corn and peanut crops. Aflatoxin testing services are provided for free to farmers in the agricultural program, for every harvest. The program greatly benefits these farmers, because it allows them to meet the sales requirements of institutional buyers and helps them market their products at competitive prices.
Lab testing is vital to the economic development goals of the program, by helping farmers ensure crop health and safety, which in turn supports the farmers’ economic independence, enabling them to care for their families’ basic needs, improve their lives and contribute to the well-being of the community.
Laboratory Operations
The Haitian Pride Breakfast Program
The Haitian Pride Breakfast Program is a philanthropic outreach program of the iF Foundation. The Program, operating at full capacity, serves breakfast to children at eighteen primary schools in Haiti where we have community partnerships. The Program operates five days a week during the school year, serving breakfast to 3,500 children who would otherwise start their day without a nutritious meal. Education in Haiti is not free, and even if parents can afford to send their children to school, many cannot provide them with even one meal per day. Many children arrive at school with empty stomachs, and are still expected to excel. The Breakfast Program addresses the immediate need of poor childhood nutrition, while the iF Foundation’s primary focus remains sustainable economic development.
The Menu
The breakfast program includes a variety of sandwiches: egg, cheese, peanut butter and ground meat. We also provide bread and milk. The bread used in the program is provided by local bakeries. The peanut butter is made by the iF Foundation with peanuts purchased from farmers in the agricultural program. Processing is done at a small facility at the iF Foundation, where we have a roaster and peanut butter mill that were acquired in 2019. The milk is also supplied by a local dairy. We support the local economy by sourcing the products needed for the breakfast program locally wherever possible.
TESTIMONIAL
“The IF Foundation has been an amazing partner for our feed mill as they have established relationships with many local farmers. We have been nothing but pleased with our interactions with their staff and services that they have provided“ xMOREx
Nick, CEO/Founder
New Roots — Haiti