LThe American rice dumped in Haiti did not provide good services to the Haitian Nation. Since the American administration of President Clinton, subsidized Arkansas farmers produced surpluses that were dropped cheaply like bombs of destruction on the Haitian market. This state produces half of the total rice crop in the United States.
Given that the majority of the Haitian working class lives in atrocious unemployment and does not have adequate means to make ends meet, American rice was precisely within the reach of their small purse, while national rice had become a luxury.
In fact, importing cheap American rice is becoming more affordable than local options. And this has only distanced the Haitian farmer from rice production. Even going so far as to destroy Haitian rice cultivation and the Artibonite valley which was once renowned for its good quality rice has been reduced to a lamentable state. Instead of the planters, from now on it is only gangs who occupy the valley and produce insecurity.
American rice not only destroyed Haitian rice production, but it also sickened its consumers. Can we say in this case that it is not simply the Dominican Republic which produces exclusively toxic foodstuffs for Haitian consumption, the United States is on the same path in this dishonest practice.
In this context, a study was done by Victoria Koski-Karell, Justin Schell, Natalie Sampson, Simone Charles, Jaclyn Goodrich of the University of Michigan and Rolinx Jean Monprevil of the community organization for Haitian agriculture.
It was published on February 2024 in the “Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development” and revealed that “ The flood of American rice in Haiti is not only economically violent for Haitian farmers who have difficulty selling their local product, but also violent for the long-term health of Haitian consumers.
This research and study work carried out in 2020, discovered “ that Haitians consumed an average of 85 kg (187 lb) of rice per year, compared to 12 kg in the United States, putting young Haitians in particular at a much higher risk of developing associated health complications. »
The report states that almost all imported rice samples failed to meet the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s recommendations for children’s consumption. On average, arsenic and cadmium concentrations were twice as high in imported samples compared to those in the EU food system. However, in contrast to the relatively low level of cadmium, the level of arsenic in some imported rice samples exceeded scientific standards recommended by Codex and other human health protection agencies. »
This report is controversial since the USA RICE Federation rejects the conclusions of the University of Michigan study on the level of arsenic contained in American rice exported to Haiti. To redeem oneselfhe USA Rice Federation states that it is “the representative of the American rice industry globally, prioritizing a safe, nutritious and affordable supply of high-quality rice.” Our members rigorously adhere to strict quality control protocols, demonstrating our unwavering commitment to health and excellence through adherence to safety standards that often exceed global standards.”
It is time for our farmers to return to their profession, and that is why we support the irrigation canal projects started by farmers either in the Maribaroux plain or in other places in the country. Only national production can put an end to import trafficking.
The Haitian people must understand the reasons for their descent into hell, the so-called friendly countries have bet on the destruction of our agriculture so that they can enrich themselves and our country is only shrouded in underdevelopment and cancerous diseases that they themselves brought to us.
The project of the capitalists is not to save people from disease but to derive much more profit and make much more money by creating all forms of tricks at every turn to exploit countries and the most precarious people.
It is time to get to work, conscious and consistent Haitian people to take back the leadership of our country in order to safeguard it against the criminals of the capitalist system! It is up to us alone to defend our lives and our nation! We thank the University of Michigan and Rolinx Jean Monprevil for this discovery of this great danger linked to rice imported into Haiti.
