Haiti's Minister of Agriculture, Marcelin Aubourg, called for a more productive and resilient farm sector able to feed the population on Thursday, October 22, at a regional dialogue on agriculture and rural development policy organized by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in Panama, HaitiLibre reported.

Aubourg said emergency aid remains essential but must be paired with long-term investment to raise production and reduce reliance on food imports. He listed better access to quality seeds, equipment, farm advice and technology, rehabilitated irrigation, better water management and modernized farms.

He also stressed early-warning systems, soil and water conservation, crop diversification, financing for farmers hit by crises and cutting post-harvest losses through better storage, processing and transport.

The minister asked that future IDB support favor productive investment and stronger agricultural institutions, and that partners align their work with the priorities set by Haitian authorities.