The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is to invest US$200M in Haiti’s agriculture by way of grants over five years to improve land titling and  irrigation as well as  boost agricultural production and increase  market access for farmers.

The IDB said in a news release that the grants will cover a quarter of the total cost of a Haitian government plan to revamp farming after the devastating January  12 earthquake.

The grants, the release noted, will mark a significant increase in IDB support for rural development in Haiti.

“Agriculture is key to reviving Haiti’s economy after the earthquake,”  said Hector Malarin, chief of the IDB’s Rural Development and Environment Division.

“We want to help Haiti improve its food security conditions with projects that boost productivity and contribute to attract investment to rural areas.”

According to the release, the IDB will finance projects to improve economic and environmental conditions in rural communities, fostering sustainable crop production.

These investments will build on past projects involving irrigation and watershed management, including efforts to combat pests and diseases affecting key crops.

In addition, they will promote farming techniques to reduce soil erosion and boost productivity.

One of the cornerstones, the release added,  will be to improve the system to recognize land tenure as a means to stimulate long-term investment in rural areas.

Currently, few Haitian farmers have clear title to their land and the country lacks a modern property registry system.

Against that background, through this project which is being discussed with the Haitian government and other international organizations the IDB will seek to increase the number of titled properties and improve the quality and access of registry services in certain rural communities, mainly regions where the IDB is financing projects.

The IDB is Haiti’s leading multilateral donor.

In March, as part of an agreement to increase the Bank’s capital, the IDB Board of Governors approved an unprecedented package of financial support which will include US$2 billion in grants over the next decade, the release concluded.