Grand Diable, Haiti

Located near the Northwest tip of Haiti, approximately 160 KM from Port au Prince, the small, rural village of Grand Diable has a population of 400 people. Six surrounding small villages also are home to approximately 2500 people.

On the Plateau, life revolves around obtaining water. Years of deforestation have significantly diminished rainfall, and what was once part of Haiti’s “breadbasket” is now a waterless desert and much of the land is desolate and depleted. 

Agriculture on the Plateau is primarily watered by rain, but since rainfall is so scarce a system of canals has been developed to carry water from the mountains that receive more rain down into the gardens. In years when the mountains do not receive adequate rain to fill the ravines and canals there is very little, if any, harvest.