"Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day…teach him to fish and he will eat for a lifetime!”…
Fish Farming is a fast, efficient route to creating desperately needed jobs in Haiti. Basic protein needs throughout the country are immense and imports are currently the primary source of this nutritional necessity. The availability of large underutilized lakes makes it possible for Haiti to seize a great opportunity.
The formula is simple and effective: $2,200 will set up a family in the fishing business with 2 cages and enough fingerlings and fish food for one production cycle. That modest cost sets this poor family on the road out of absolute poverty to an improved life style. The technology is proven and provided. Supporting infrastructure can readily be expanded to serve the needs of the growing fishing industry.
Long range, Haiti could be well positioned to participate in the world market for fish. Currently the oceans are overfished and supply of fresh fish is increasingly being accommodated by fish farming. Haiti’s relative location to the USA, the world’s largest importer of fish provides the needed opportunity to participate.
The country is fortunate to have Dr. Valentin Abe, a person who is well qualified professionally and widely recognized as a humanitarian. Donor partners, large and small, are encouraged to join with Dr. Abe and help bring about an economic miracle in the fishing villages in Haiti.
Current project needs are listed in the table below:
Item | Cost |
One cage in the lake | $1,200 |
Cage Project (2 cages) enabling one job | $2,400 |
Complete Village Project: 100 Cages - 50 jobs (4 villages to be funded) | $120,000/village $480,000 total |
Fish Processing Plant | $240,000 |
Refrigerated Truck | $40,000 |
Land Purchase for Fish Hatchery | $80,000 |
Office Building at Hatchery | $20,000 |
Funding to build management depth, training & education | $220,000 |
Village Needs: Housing, Water, School tuition, etc | many small gifts |
Grand Total | $1,080,000 + |