From October 20 to 24, 2025, Vernet Joseph, Haiti’s Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Rural Development, participated in the 53rd session of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) in Rome, Italy. Addressing the assembly, Minister Joseph highlighted the dire food crisis in Haiti while expressing optimism that the nation could overcome its challenges through effective policies and global solidarity. He underscored that nearly 5.7 million Haitians, including 2.8 million children, faced acute food insecurity as of June 2025, representing almost half the population. Despite these staggering figures, Joseph emphasized that hunger is not inevitable but a collective challenge that Haiti is determined to tackle. He outlined the government’s integration of the CFS Framework for Action into its policies, supported by international organizations such as the FAO, WFP, and World Bank. These efforts focus on strengthening family farming, promoting rural entrepreneurship, improving market access, and enhancing nutrition and school feeding programs. Joseph highlighted the success of the National School Meals Program, benefiting 1.2 to 1.6 million students, and a $10 million nutrition initiative in northern Haiti. He called for increased international cooperation, funding, and community involvement to transform Haiti’s food systems and build resilience locally.
Society : «Hunger is not inevitable, it is a collective challenge» says Minister Joseph
