In 2019 we completed a major goal, building a feed mill to process our own chicken feed.  Our hope was that instead of spending thousands of dollars every month to import feed from the Dominican Republic, we could instead spend the money purchasing the main ingredient, corn, from our local community.  People in our area already knew how to grow corn well, their problem was that there had never been a buyer for their products.  

We knew in order to maximize potential, we would need to offer some assistance.  Instead of preparing, planting, and harvesting by hand, we dreamed of being able to help with tractor services.  Our first attempt was to rent a local tractor to help our neighbors cultivate their land.  I wish I could report that this was the simple answer, however, after we rented it, we had a few days of rain and were not able to do any land work at all.  It became evident that if we were serious about assisting the community with cultivation we needed a tractor of our own.   

I spent the next several months talking with farmers to try and determine what was the best fit for our needs.  Nearly everyone highly recommended the John Deere 4020.  The 4020 was built between 1964-1972.  Farmers all over the world still use them today.  When I find myself describing it to people I say its one big 6 cylinder diesel, bolted to a big transmission, with 4 tires, and a chair.  There are no computers, no GPS equipment, and no automatic shuttle shifting.  It is simply and purely mechanical.  The more I learned about this tractor the more I realized it was the perfect tractor for Haiti.
 
I traveled to Minnesota last summer and purchased a 1971 tractor that had been recently refurbished.  It fit inside the shipping container with 1/2” to spare.  We also shipped down a IH 710 4-16 plow, a 15’ JD disk, 7’ brush hog, and 4 row planter -JD 7000 with precision corn meters.
 
As soon as the tractor arrived we put it right to work.  We hired Papout, a local guy that had worked on many construction projects and odd jobs around the farm before to be our operator.  He is mechanical minded and took to driving the tractor very naturally.  We wanted someone who not only is familiar with the area, but also understands the importance of helping local farmers use their land to its full potential.  Seven months in and we are happy to say he is the perfect fit for the job!

Since the start of the year, we have been able to plant 112 acres for our neighbors.  All of that land is within a mile from our farm.  Our neighbors are going to be making TENS OF THOUSANDS of dollars on their land within the next year ALL because we were able to help them cultivate it.  The vast majority of these farmers would have let another season pass without being able to plant anything.  In addition to planting corn, farmers are also planting sugar cane, corn, peanuts, beans, and plantains.

Holistically, when I think of pure – sustainable – community involved – community driven – economic development, I have a very hard time coming up with a better opportunity to help people than cultivation with a tractor.  The 112 acres that we prepared is for 67 different families.  Never before has any of our programs been able to impact that many people, continually in a sustainable way.  Talk about a pathway OUT of poverty.  This is it!

We would love to get another, nearly identical tractor this fall because we were not able to assist every farmer who reached out asking us for help this past spring.  We know as word spreads, so will the demand.  We’d love to see this whole valley have the opportunity to benefit from planting and selling corn to sell to New Roots.   

If you or a small group of friends would want to help sponsor another tractor please contact me at nikki@newrootshaiti.org

Please pray for all the farmers in our area with crops in the ground.  Having the right amount of rain at the right times is so critical to a good harvest.  In the tropics sometimes we get no rain, other times we get way too much.  It’s a fine balance.  A good growing season will mean more jobs, more financial return, more kids in school, more homes built, and more full bellies.  

If you want to watch a video of some of the tractor work and why it so important check this video out: CLICK HERE