According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the US Geological Survey (USGS) and other meteorological institutes, estimates that the second half of 2019 is not characterized by a strong El Niño episode and that precipitation is generally below average.

The 2019/2020 (rice, maize) and winter (sorghum, maize, rice) harvests will be below average, if we look at the agro-climatic projections from the perspective period and especially losses recorded in the spring.

However, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for Haiti is forecasting favorable conditions for the first three months of 2020, which points to a normal start to the 2020 spring season.

Sorghum plantations, which will reach the end of their cycle in December and January, are developing normally because of their resilience to drought. But the risk of being attacked by aphids remains high, except in the case of the non-photoperiodic variety (shorter cycle) and resistant to aphids.

Given the normal expected rainfall conditions from January to March 2020, we can anticipate a spring 2020/2021 spring campaign. However, it is too early to estimate crop performance.

Finally, the harvesting activities of the spring, summer/fall campaigns and the launch of the winter 2019 and spring 2020 campaigns will give new impetus to the demand for agricultural labor. Nevertheless, supply could be limited because of the high propensity to migrate Haitian workers, attracted by financially more attractive working conditions elsewhere, particularly in the Dominican Republic.

IH/ iciHaiti