a photographic report (click to view pdf file)

Mature trees can yield over a thousand fruits per season, earning up to $100.	Mme Francique mangos are an important source of income to farming families.	Coeur d'Or is a new variety rapidly gaining popularity

Mangos represent the largest percentage of the tree population throughout Haiti. It was recently estimated by USAID that there are 10 million mango trees growing in Haiti. However, only about 10% of the existing trees are the Mme Francique commercial variety. The remainder are local varieties which have little commercial value. Population growth and increased economic pressures are leading to widespread deforestation throughout Haiti affecting low quality fruit trees which are cut down for fuel or wood products. Transforming low quality fruit trees by top-grafting is clearly a simple way of protecting the environment and improving the economic plight of the farmers by increasing their revenue. We see it as a choice between watching the majority of the trees disappearing over the next decade and trying to survive in an island without tree cover, or converting them to commercial trees. Only high revenue trees - such as commercial quality fruits and spice trees - will survive deforestation. Trees which earn between $50 and $100 a year are too valuable to lose!

Exports of mangos to the USA are expanding every year

The goal of our improvement program is to increase the commercial tree population through nursery production, and by using top-grafting in the field to transform existing noncommercial trees into commercial quality trees, such as Mme Francique. Grafting in nurseries and top-grafting adult trees in the field ensure a rapid increase in production of commercial quality fruits. Furthermore we are working on introducing selected new varieties for export and transformation, and on increasing profitability through technical assistance to improve post-harvest activities and marketing operations. Increasing the population of commercially productive trees will generate significant economic benefits, promote food security, help expand Haiti's existing mango export industry and have beneficial ecological effects.  

The mango export industry

The mango industry in Haiti is one of the most dynamic sectors of economy, with exports growing every year. Mangos are produced in different regions of the island, thanks to its diversity of microclimates. Haiti is able to produce mangos almost all year round. Over 140 varieties of mangos have been identified, but the Madame Francis is the only one currently being exported fresh.

The volume of exports has continued to increase since the 1970's, but even with increased exports it is estimated that at the present Haiti is only exporting 20% of its potential output. Mangos are well appreciated throughout the island, so there is also a high demand on the local market.

To learn more about the mango industry in Haiti we suggest you visit the following sites: JMB S.A.at www.mango-haiti.com. JMB S.A. exports on an average 450,000 boxes of 10 lb. a year, and plans to establish its own orchards in the near future to meet the growing demand. Also ANEM (Association Nationale des Exportateurs de Mangues) - Haiti's National Association of Mango Exporters at www.mangohaiti.org.