Goat farming is one of the most widespread agricultural activities in rural Haiti, providing both food and income for tens of thousands of smallholder farming families across the country’s varied terrain. In 2019, goat farmers faced a particular set of challenges that illustrated how political and economic instability in the urban centers rippled out to affect the most remote rural communities.
The disruption of market access was the most immediate problem. Road blockades during protest periods prevented farmers from transporting their animals to markets, causing them to miss sale opportunities at peak demand periods like religious holidays when goat meat was most in demand. The inability to sell when prices were highest represented a significant loss of income for families operating on thin margins.
Animal health remained a persistent challenge. Outbreaks of contagious caprine pleuropneumonia and other livestock diseases were reported in several regions, and the disruption to veterinary services caused by the crisis made it harder for farmers to access treatment and preventive care for their animals.
NGOs working with Haitian agricultural communities argued that investment in small ruminant livestock systems — goats and sheep — offered one of the highest returns per development dollar in Haiti, given the low capital requirements, the strong cultural preference for goat meat, and the ability of small ruminants to thrive on degraded land. They called for sustained support for smallholder livestock producers even during periods of political crisis.