Food for Export: An Analysis of Haiti's Agricultural Export Potential in the Nord-Ouest Department

This study explores the agricultural export potential of Haiti's Nord-Ouest Department, a region historically marked by food insecurity, high poverty rates, and geographical isolation. Despite accounting for 21 percent of Haitis GDP and being the primary source of employment for 50 percent of the population, agriculture represents only 7 percent of Haiti's exports. The sector thus has the potential for greater export promotion, benefiting the country as a whole, but also poorer regions that strongly depend on this activity, such as the Nord-Ouest where it employs 62.7 percent of the workforce. This paper addresses the structural, economic, and policy barriers that have historically undermined the sector's productivity and export capabilities in this Department. Employing a combination of systems analysis, spatial value chain analysis, and quantitative crop ranking, the research identifies strategic interventions to enhance agricultural productivity and export potential. The analysis focuses on crops with high export potential, nutritional value, and climate change resilience. Findings suggest that increasing productivity and boosting exports requires a multipronged approach: improving infrastructure and food processing, combatting socioeconomic behaviors including charcoal production and deforestation, and restoring political stability.