Lemons in Haiti!

Haiti Libre
Monday, May 30, 2016

Saturday 28 May, a MoU was signed between the Ministry of Agriculture and the firm Agri Supply in order to contribute to the revival of production of lemon in Haiti.

In recent years the citrus groves (lemon grove) are in net regressions, mainly because of diseases like Grenning and the absence of opportunities due to the closure of processing plants in Haiti. Recall that in the 80s, Haiti was providing over 20% of US demand of lemon essential oil. The current situation has for consequence the massive annual imports (1,800 tons) of lemons from Dominican Republic for an estimated value of $1 million/year.

The objectives of this agreement are intended, among other to revitalize the sector of essential oils on the international market, boost production and develop a true processing industry. To this end, it is particularly provided :

• To establish a central nursery in the South with greenhouses for asexual reproduction ;
• To establish satellite nurseries, much in the Nippes ;
• To produce 1 million lemon seedlings per year (in the South more than 100,000 seedlings are already available and begin to be distributed).

Training will be provided by experts in citrus in contact with Agri Supply.

Learn more about the lemon in Haiti :
The lemon tree is a tree that helps in the protection of soil and produced fruit with which is elaborated the citronnade, lemonade, jelly, liquor, jam, soft drink (Sprite, lemon cola), salad dressing and an essential oil used in perfumery.