Haiti - Agricultural Sector Review
Summary — This report reviews Haiti's agricultural sector performance from 1970-1989, identifying constraints to growth and recommending policy changes. It highlights the sector's stagnation, declining productivity, and the impact of trade policies and institutional weaknesses on agricultural development.
Key Findings
- Agricultural productivity has declined due to deterioration of capital stock.
- Protectionist policies have led to resource misallocation and contraband.
- Lack of secure land tenure hinders investment and modernization.
- Government failure to provide public goods constrains growth.
- Coffee and sugar sectors face unpromising prospects.
Full Description
The report provides a comprehensive review of Haiti's agricultural sector, analyzing its performance between 1970 and 1989. It identifies key constraints to agricultural growth, including declining productivity, land degradation, and the failure of the state to provide essential public goods such as secure property rights and effective irrigation systems. The report also examines the impact of fiscal and trade policies, highlighting distortions caused by protectionist measures and implicit export taxes. It concludes with policy recommendations aimed at promoting efficiency, technological change, and investment in the agricultural sector, emphasizing the need for a neutral trade regime and improved institutional frameworks.