Ennery
- Belhomme Manette; Female; 39 years; 5 children; Market woman. farmer; 2yrs in Cell ; None
- Acceus Junette; Female; 55 years; 7 children; Midwife. farmer; 2yrs in Cell; None
- Joseph Jocelyn; Male; 45 years; 6 children; Businessman; 2yrs in Cell; Matènel
- Estimable Emmanuel; Male; 48 years; 7 children; Farmer; 3yrs in Cell; 9eme anne
- Casseus Ordine; Male; 37 years; 5 children; Masonary. Painter; 2yrs in Cell; 9eme anne
- Chevet Belhomme; Male; 36 years; 5 children ; Cook; 3yrs in Cell; 3eme anne
- Dolcius Dolce; Male; 60 years; 3 children; Farmer; None; None
- Zefi Dadou; Female; 29 years; 4 children; Market woman; 3yrs in Cell; None
- Jean Matilia; Female; 45 years; 6 children; Market woman; 2yrs in Cell; None
- Darival Elusma; Male; 41years; 2 Children; Teacher; 3yrs in Cell; Rheto
- Gabriel Mexil; Male; 40 years; 1 child; Masonary; 3yrs in Cell; 8eme anne
- Belhomme Manus; Male; 36 years ; 4 children; Carpenter; 2yrs in Cell; 6eme anne
- St. Jn Raymond; Male; 41 years; 2 children; Farmer. painter; 3yrs in Cell; 9eme anne
- Marie Carme Fils Aime; Female; 39 years; 5 children; Seamstress; 3yrs in Cell ; 8eme anne
- Belhomme Dieuphene; Male; 44 years; 4children; Masonary. grafter; 3yrs in Cell; 8eme ane
- Egzilia Valeris; Female; 48 years; 5 children; None; None
- Philistin Noncilia; Female; 53 years; None; Market woman. farmer; 3yrs in Cell; None
- Zephir Olivier; Male; 41years; None; Seller; 3yrs in Cell; 7eme anne
- Jean Mousline; Female; 20 years; 2 children; Market woman; 3yrs in Cell; 8eme anne
Responses Begin
#1 Belhomme Manette; Female; 39 years; 5 children; Market woman, farmer; 2yrs in Cell ; None: Yes, my name is Manette. I am a member in the Cell Leve Kanpe. It is possible for you to plant more mango trees but you are not taking care of the trees like the person making more money. The person who plants less cleans his trees more. You take better care of your mangoes than someone who has more trees. A producer can have 100 mango trees and I have only 10 trees but I make more money than him.
Thank you. Would someone else like to add something?
(Silence)
(You can hear pounding in the background.)
#16.Belhomme Dieuphene; Male; 44 years; 4children; Masonary, grafter; 3yrs in Cell; 8eme ane:[1]My name is Belhomme Dieuphene. The 85% ha-has more mangoes but they-they are making less-less profit. The re-reason is that they- they are not selling like the 84%. Because of the train-training the 84% received they have a-a guarantee on the profit.(Someone is coughing) That-that is why he can have 6 mango trees and he-he is making more money because he has-has a guarantee and he is not sell-selling to the outside buyers. The 85% would climb their trees and shake the trees so the mangoes can fall on the ground so they can sell them. Now they are not-not getting any profit from that. They are al-also cutting their trees but the 84% are not cut-cutting their trees because their tree-trees are more value-valuable to them.
Ok. I understand. But I want you to understand why they are planting more but not in the sense where some mango trees are bearing more fruit or that producer in program earning money. Let’s just look at planting. Why are producers who are not in a Cell planting more mango trees than producers who are in a Cell.
#16.Belhomme Dieuphene; Male; 44 years; 4children; Masonary, grafter; 3yrs in Cell; 8eme ane: Ok ok.
#15.Marie Carme Fils Aime; Female; 39 years; 5 children; Seamstress; 3yrs in Cell ; 8eme anne: My name is Fils Aime Madame Marikam. What I found with the 85% that are planting more is that they think with a big quantity that they can make more profit. But the advantage we get with Technoserve is that if we want to plant a 100 trees we have timing to do that. Technoserve gave us trainings on how to plant trees and also how to succeed in planting. These other producers plant without guidance. They plant anywhere they could find a place to plant. But as for us, if we want 20 or 50 it’s a profit for our community and also a personal profit.
(Silence)
Presentation continued on the changes on how many mangoes was considered to be a dozen.
In 2010 before the program a dozen mangos was 20 mangoes. In 2013 a dozen was 16 mangoes. Now in 2015 a dozen mangoes is 14 mangoes.
The presentation continued on the price change for a dozen mango since the program.
A participant: We have a song about that.
You have a song for that? Sing it to us.
(Public is laughing.)
A participant: Hummm, this how it goes :
Technoserve you are truly good.
Because of you our mangoes are now more valuable in our community.
Technoserve you are truly good.
Because of you our mangoes are now more valuable in our community .
Voltije used to take 18-20 mangoes for a dozen(2x).
Now with the dozen being 14 we are making more money.
Same participant : Hummm, you see now?
(Participants and surveyors are laughing. Surveyors are clapping.)
Is Technoserve buying the mangoes or is it Perry?
Several participants: No, no.
#16.Belhomme Dieuphene; Male; 44 years; 4children; Masonary, grafter; 3yrs in Cell; 8eme ane: Technoserve is not buying the mangoes but it shows where to sell them.
Several participants:Yes.
Would Perry take 14 in a dozen if it wasn’t for Technoserve?
#16.Belhomme Dieuphene; Male; 44 years; 4children; Masonary, grafter; 3yrs in Cell; 8eme ane: No he wouldn’t. It-it is because of Technoserve. Technoserve showed us the way by taking us to Perry’s house to sell-sell our mangoes.
What do you think if Technoserve leaves?
A participant : Ohhh it would not be good for us at all
#16 continues : That will not be good for us. That will not be good for us because we still need it. We need Technoserve to open more doors for us.
Do you think a dozen mango will always be 14?
#16.Belhomme Dieuphene; Male; 44 years; 4children; Masonary, grafter; 3yrs in Cell; 8eme ane: No, no. We are waiting for it to go lower. We are waiting for that.
(Several other participants are saying no and that the dozen will go lower than 14.)
(Silence)
Are you aware producers who are not in a Cell are making a profit?
A female participanti: The Voltijes.
#16.Belhomme Dieuphene; Male; 44 years; 4children; Masonary, grafter; 3yrs in Cell; 8eme ane: Excuse me if I interrupted you.
You are allow to interrupt me.
(Public is laughing.)
#16.Belhomme Dieuphene; Male; 44 years; 4children; Masonary, grafter; 3yrs in Cell; 8eme ane: Now the Cell have ruined it for the Voltijes because we are buying at 28 gourdes per dozen. The Voltijes see that if they don’t increase their price they won’t get mangoes so-so they have to buy at 28 gourdes per dozen too.
They have to increase their price too.
Participant continues: They have to increase their price too. That means everyone-everyone (Another participant is talking in the background.) is the same now. Also this year we had to increase the price, hummm I believe it was 30 gourdes per dozen, they also increased their price too. You can see we are to increase the price for mangoes.
Before the program all producers were selling at the same price. In 2010 a dozen was 14 gourdes now it is 42 gourdes. Remember we spoke about what an average is? It is by average we found that number. That is a 200% increase.
Several Participants: We are praying for that.
It’s already happening now.
(Laughing)
The presentation continued on describing the market for the mango production. It also described the difference between then and now.
Could you have gone to sell at the Packing House without the help from Technoserve?
( Silence)
#15.Marie Carme Fils Aime; Female; 39 years; 5 children; Seamstress; 3yrs in Cell ; 8eme anne: In a sense I can say maybe yes maybe no. What I want to say if Technoserve leaves we can still go to the Packing House. Why? Technoserve had given us a certificate. It had trained us and also helped us get access to the Packing House. Technoserve had given us a market to go to. Technoserve also showed us how keep a successful business. Yes we can go now. But we wouldn’t be able to go if it wasn’t for Technoserve. We would be doing it like the Voltije. Instead of going directly to the Packing House like now we would take our mangoes to the Local Contractor who then take the mangoes to the Big Contractor who would take them to the Packing House. Thanks to Technoserve who has showed us how to be a team and created the Cell for us. Maybe if Technoserve leaves we might still get the ristoun[2]. But we know we will get an adjustment.
What about if Perry close his Packing House?
#15.Marie Carme Fils Aime; Female; 39 years; 5 children; Seamstress; 3yrs in Cell ; 8eme anne: The way Technoserve trained us if Perry closes his Packing House we will look for another Packing House to sell our mangoes. If the mangoes are in this house and we can’t find a door to get them outside we will break down the walls; if the walls can’t be broken we climb through the roof. That was how Technoserve trained us.
A participant said and laughing at the same time : That was the training we got.
Does that mean that before Technoserve producers were not selling directly to the Packing House?
Several participants : No, no. They didn’t go.
#11.Darival Elusma; Male; 41years; 2 Children; Teacher; 3yrs in Cell; Rheto:Yes, before Technoserve Voltijes from Gros Mornes were buying our mangoes and selling them in Port au Prince. Now with the coming of Technoserve the Cells had put Gros Morne down. With Technoserve we sent them all home. Before Technoserve it was them who were taking our mangoes, us from Savanne Carrè.
Are they still coming?
#11.Darival Elusma; Male; 41years; 2 Children; Teacher; 3yrs in Cell; Rheto: No. Since then the door was closed.
There are no Voltije coming here anymore to buy mangoes?
A participant: No. Not often
#11.Darival Elusma; Male; 41years; 2 Children; Teacher; 3yrs in Cell; Rheto: Well, there is only one person, in the community, that is still here. Besides him only a few come. You understand? There are a few that still come. The Cell has stopped them in the whole community.
When you said the community who in the community do you mean? Everyone?
#11.Darival Elusma; Male; 41years; 2 Children; Teacher; 3yrs in Cell; Rheto: No, I mean the producers.
Is there several people from the community who are Voltije
Several participants: No. Only 1 person is a Voltije.
#11.Darival Elusma; Male; 41years; 2 Children; Teacher; 3yrs in Cell; Rheto: No. There is only 1 person.
Is he a Local Contractor? Does he buy a lot of mangoes?
Public : Yes
Does he buy at a good price?
#11.Darival Elusma; Male; 41years; 2 Children; Teacher; 3yrs in Cell; Rheto: Good ! (Another participant : He is following us ! Well, now he is following the Cell. When the Cell goes up he follows too.
Was he/she here before the Cells?
#11.Darival Elusma; Male; 41years; 2 Children; Teacher; 3yrs in Cell; Rheto: Yes, he was here before. (Another participant: He was here before.)
Was he here buying mangoes then ?
#11.Darival Elusma; Male; 41years; 2 Children; Teacher; 3yrs in Cell; Rheto: Yes, he used to buy mangoes.
So now he is giving a better price?
#11.Darival Elusma; Male; 41years; 2 Children; Teacher; 3yrs in Cell; Rheto: Now-now[3] when he sees he won’t get any mangoes he follows Technoserve. Now he increases his price. He is buying at 30 gourdes per dozen like the Cell.
#19.Zephir Olivier; Male; 41years; None; Seller; 3yrs in Cell; 7eme anne: Yes. My name is Zephir Olivier. What I want to say is if Technoserve didn’t come to community of Enerry my friend it would have been a big deficit for us. And from the beginning the old members said the first step was to start. They said we will start from 2 gourdes to 6 gourdes, and then we will go 12 gourdes to 20 gourdes. Finally with Technoserve and this program, well my man we don’t have the 2 gourdes price anymore.
The Voltije we have now, I can say he is someone who has big quantity of mango trees. The strategy he uses is each time we have meetings he would attend the meetings or he is in the surrounding area where the meeting is being held. He is taking hints from us on how to do his business.
This year I made a remark. If he sees we are not doing any activities in the Cell he gets suspicious. Well, why is that? Because when we are not doing any activities he cannot do his own activities too. So each time he needs to do something he takes some hints from us. He is taking hints from us but he cannot do exactly what we do.
Once I met that Voltije and he said, “Olivier, I feel like you are breaking me because I met a producer he said that you are buying at 32 gourdes per dozen.” “At 32 gourdes per dozen? I am in the program and I don’t know this price.” I said. I knew he was trying to get information on the mango price from me but I stayed cool. He waited until we set the price at 32 gourdes per dozen than he set his own price at the same rate. Do you understand? That means he is using the same price we are using.
In the past all the Packing Houses were talking about mangoes from Gros Mornes but those mangoes were actually coming from us. Those mangoes they were selling were coming from our strength. The Voltijes from Gros Mornes used to play us. They would come and buy our mangoes and sell at the Packing Houses. Instead of telling the mangoes were from Enneri they said the mangoes were from Gros Mornes. That wasn’t true. It was our mangoes that made them successful. Well, my friend if Technoserve was already here before the time it came I won’t be that skinny.( Public laughing) We producers would be better off. Understand? My friend Technoserve is great thing. We make more money now. We produce more mangoes now.
In the past did you discuss the price for the mangoes?
#16.Belhomme Dieuphene; Male; 44 years; 4children; Masonary, grafter; 3yrs in Cell; 8eme ane: No.
Ok. You can speak.
#16.Belhomme Dieuphene; Male; 44 years; 4children; Masonary, grafter; 3yrs in Cell; 8eme ane:Yes. Be-before it was the producers who were picking the mangoes. (A participant is coughing.) They would just climb the mango tree and shake it. After they wou-would fill up their basket and sell them. At-at that time how much was in the dozen? 20 mangoes, they were taking 20 mangoes for a dozen.
Did you call that number a dozen in the past?
Public : No. Yes. We were giving them 50 mangoes back then.
#16.Belhomme Dieuphene; Male; 44 years; 4children; Masonary, grafter; 3yrs in Cell; 8eme ane: Listen. Listen. They took 18 or 20 for a dozen. Well, that means for how much money? They paid 10 gourdes or 12 gourdes for the dozen. Both numbers are the same thing. When-when Technoserve came it showed us the way. That was when we got a good price.
Last year how much did we buy the mangoes? We brought the dozen at 27 gourdes. To show you, when they heard we’re paying 27 gourdes they raise their price to 27 gourdes too. How much were they paying before that? They were buying at 25 gourdes.
They know they won’t find any mangoes so they started buying at the same price as we are buying. Now this year again when we raise the price to 28 gourdes, they raise their price 28 gourdes too.
But the problem we have is that we don’t have cash to-to buy and pay at the same time.
But the Voltijes they have cash. The same time you pick the mangoes and sell the mangoes to them they count your money and give it to you. As for us, we have to go to the Packing House first. When we come back we need to sign the check before we can pay the producers.
It is only the Cell members who have the heart to wait for their money. The other producers cannot wait. You need to pay them at the time of buying.
That- that is why the Voltijes will always be here. If we had cash we would pay at the time of buying. My man, I am telling you we will always have the Voltijes. That’s why we can say this year is good year for us. This year, hummmm, Technoserve promised us a loan.
Does the Packing House pay the same price for all kind of mangoes even the mangoes are not good quality?
#16.Belhomme Dieuphene; Male; 44 years; 4children; Masonary, grafter; 3yrs in Cell; 8eme ane: No, only the beautiful ones.
Several participants: No. No. We sell them to Madame Sarah. We leave the bad ones on the tree to sell to Madam Sarah. The Packing House only buys the beautiful ones.
What about the Madame Sarah price has it increased too?
#16.Belhomme Dieuphene; Male; 44 years; 4children; Masonary, grafter; 3yrs in Cell; 8eme ane: No. No. It’s different.
Public: No. No. No. The price is different. It’s different.
Do you sell them per dozen or per basket?
A participant: The Madame Sarah don’t buy per dozen.
#16.Belhomme Dieuphene; Male; 44 years; 4children; Masonary, grafter; 3yrs in Cell; 8eme ane: The Madame Sarah don’t buy per dozen
A participant: Per basket, the Madame Sarah buy per basket.
(Several participants are talking at the same time.)
How would you compare the price the Madame Sarah used to give in the past with the price they are buying now?
(Several participants are talking at the same time.)
A participant: One after the other, speak one by one.
#11.Darival Elusma; Male; 41years; 2 Children; Teacher; 3yrs in Cell; Rheto: As for the Madame Sarah, when we pick the mangoes we pick all the good ones and leave the bad ones on the trees to sell to the Madame Sarah. Then the producer will call the Madame Sarah and set a price for all the mangoes on the tree.
Someone climbs the tree to pick all the mangoes on the tree. The Madame Sarah will then take the mangoes to the local markets. As for the price they pay, it depends on when they are buying the mangoes. They can buy them for less or for more. If the local markets are overflowing with mangoes, well, they will pay less.
All the good mangoes are sold per dozen. All the bad ones are sold to the Madame Sarah to sell at the local markets. That is how it is.
Ok. Do you only sell the leftover mangoes to the Madame Sarah? What about the Voltijes don’t they buy some of these mangoes?
Public: No.
#11.Darival Elusma; Male; 41years; 2 Children; Teacher; 3yrs in Cell; Rheto: They don’t buy them.
The Voltijes only want good quality mangoes?
Several participants: Yes. They want beautiful mangoes too.
How many times do you pick mangoes from the tree?
Public: Several times, we pick mangoes several times.
#11.Darival Elusma; Male; 41years; 2 Children; Teacher; 3yrs in Cell; Rheto: The mango has several stages to be ready. Well, we went through the first stage and take the ones that are ripe. After 2 or 3 days we pick more. The mangoes ripen faster as you start picking them. Again after couple of days you pick some more until you’re done picking all the good ones. Then we-we tell the producer he can do whatever he wants with the rest.
You decided not to take them because you know you won’t sell the mangoes at the Packing House?
#11.Darival Elusma; Male; 41years; 2 Children; Teacher; 3yrs in Cell; Rheto: Yes. Yes, the leftover has marks on them. Only at the local market you will sell them.
(Several participants are talking among themselves.)
How many times can a producer pick mangoes from 1 tree?
Public: 3 times. That depends on the harvest. That depends on how his harvest was prepared.
#11.Darival Elusma; Male; 41years; 2 Children; Teacher; 3yrs in Cell; Rheto: That depends on the producer’s harvest. Some mangoes bear fruits in several stages. Do you understand? You pick the ones that are ready and then come back for more.
Would someone like to add more? How many times do you take mangoes to the Packing House?
#17.Egzilia Valeris; Female; 48 years; 5 children; None; None: 3 times
You pick mangoes to send to the Packing House about 3 times?
#17.Egzilia Valeris; Female; 48 years; 5 children; None; None: Yes.
#4.Estimable Emmanuel; Male; 48 years; 7 children; Farmer; 3yrs in Cell; 9eme anne: Well, my name is Emmanuel. I am a member for the Cell Men nan Men[4]. Last year we made a discovery. The Voltije almost cheated us. The reason was because we sold Organic mangoes in the equitable market.
Well, this year all of the members, most of the members were supposed to sell at the Organic market but most of our members names didn’t make the list. What happened is that less of our members sold at the Organic market. Most of them sold their mangoes at conventional market instead.
Well, the Voltije made a profit on that because we had fewer producers who sold Organic. The amount he made this year is more than what he made last year. That Voltije is making more money because we have more producers that are following us. Well, people say that the Voltije has cash and we don’t. But we have the ristoun and he doesn’t. The ristoun is hope for producers.
Some producers are selling their mangoes elsewhere because we don’t have a market for Equitable mangoes.
At what price were they selling?
#4.Estimable Emmanuel; Male; 48 years; 7 children; Farmer; 3yrs in Cell; 9eme anne: Both were the same price except producers in the Equitable market will not get a ristoun.
They still get a good price but not a ristoun?
#4.Estimable Emmanuel; Male; 48 years; 7 children; Farmer; 3yrs in Cell; 9eme anne:Yeah! They-they, some producers are being abused because they had to sell their mangoes to the Voltije and they will not get a ristoun.
Was it because the Packing House did want to buy more mangoes?
#4.Estimable Emmanuel; Male; 48 years; 7 children; Farmer; 3yrs in Cell; 9eme anne: Non. No. No, it wasn’t because of that. They get pay faster. They pay them faster.
#6. Chevet Belhomme; Male; 36 years; 5 children ; Cook; 3yrs in Cell; 3eme anne: My name is Belhomme. I am a member at Cell Leve Kanpe[5]. I can say from 2013 to 2014 we were on top of our game in the Cell. As producers, in 2014 we sold a lot of mangoes. We sold both organic and Equitable mangoes.
As for this year, our names did not come out on the Organic or the Equitable list. Our name came out on the Conventional list. I can say there is no profit when you sell on the Conventional market.
When we looked at 2014 we made enough money and we made money for development in the community. The money for development, we fixed the pipes to bring water from far away to the community. All the producers got water, both those who sold and those who didn’t sell mangoes. At this moment I want to say the Organic and Equitable mangoes are better profit for the producers. But this year we didn’t get a code. Our names didn’t come out on the Organic or Equitable lists.
Well, these producers said that they would rather sell to the Voltije instead of selling to the Cell because the Cell was buying the mango at 30 gourdes per dozen and the Voltije was paying the same price. They preferred selling to the Voltije because they got their money at the time of selling. But the Cell would have to pay them after the mangoes were sold at the Packing House.
Is it for that reason we are asking Technoserve to find more markets for us so the producers name can come out of the list. We want to stop the Voltije who is here from getting mangoes because the bonus is a benefit for the community. There are more works that need to be done in the community.
In the 2014 we had the chance to send our children to school but as for this year we sold our mangoes to the Voltije. There is no profit this year for us and we won’t be able to send our children to school. There is no profit to even buy an animal but in 2014 we did buy animals.
If we look careful the price went up but you said you are not making a profit.
#6. Chevet Belhomme; Male; 36 years; 5 children ; Cook; 3yrs in Cell; 3eme anne: Yes, the price went up. Let me tell you in what sense I say we didn’t make a profit. We didn’t make a profit because the mangoes were sold to the Voltije.
That doesn’t make any sense.
#6. Chevet Belhomme; Male; 36 years; 5 children ; Cook; 3yrs in Cell; 3eme anne: What I said is that in 2014 it was better for us.
Let’s take an example. If I brought something for 10 gourdes and sell lit for 15 gourdes I made a profit of 5 gourdes. I don’t see where you are not making a profit. Now you are selling the dozen 30 gourdes and before it was 15 gourdes, you are making a profit of 15 gourdes.
#6. Chevet Belhomme; Male; 36 years; 5 children ; Cook; 3yrs in Cell; 3eme anne: Yes. I know I am making a profit of 15 gourdes. Ok. I know that. The profit from 2014 was because of the ristoun. This year there is no ristoun because the mangoes were sold in the conventional market. When you sell at the conventional market there is no ristoun. If we don’t have a ristoun we cannot invest in the community.
Ok. That means you made less money this year?
#6. Chevet Belhomme; Male; 36 years; 5 children ; Cook; 3yrs in Cell; 3eme anne: Yes. I made less money.
We have people here who are not talking. We would like for everyone to participate.
(Several participants started taking at the same time.)
A male participant: I didn’t say anything because I don’t participate in anything.
You are not PBG member? You are not in a Cell? Do you have mangoes? Do you sell mangoes? Did you sell mangoes to a Voltije?
Participant continues: No.
Do you have mango tree?
Participant continues: I have a few trees but they are not producing yet.
Did you plant them?
Participant continues: Yes.
Did you buy these trees?
Participant continues: God made me get some and I have others that were grafted; but they are producing yet.
Did you get them from the Cell?
Participant continues: No, I didn’t.
How many trees do you have?
Participant continues: I don’t have a lot of trees but I planted some. I planted several trees. As I work on the farm I plant mango trees.
Where do you get young mango trees to plant? Do you get them from the Cell or do buy them?
(Several participants are talking at the same time.)
Participant continues: No, we do our own nursery. I was in the Cell before but I stopped because there was nothing interesting for me.
(Several participants are talking at the same time.)
You didn’t have mangoes to sell at that time?
Participant continues: Yes
Do you think you will have mangoes next season?
Participant continues: Only God knows.
Public: I have a question. You have to wait.
You can speak.
#13.Belhomme Manus; Male; 36 years ; 4 children; Carpenter; 2yrs in Cell; 6eme anne: What I want to say on the issue about, hummmm, how many times you can pick mangoes from 1 tree.( Someone is coughing.) Sometimes you can pick mangoes from 1 tree at least 4 times. You go the first time and pick the ones that are ripe and send them to the Packing House. You can go again and again until you pick all the good ones and send them to the Packing House. Now the rest that are not good quality you give them for the local markets.
(Silence)
The Madame Sarah takes everything else?
#13.Belhomme Manus; Male; 36 years ; 4 children; Carpenter; 2yrs in Cell; 6eme anne:Yes
Do they take all at once?
#13.Belhomme Manus; Male; 36 years ; 4 children; Carpenter; 2yrs in Cell; 6eme anne: No, they don’t take all at the same time.
Another participant: Yes, on the local market.
Participant continues: No. The mangoes that are selling at the local markets were picked on the same day. Because …
What if all the mangoes on the tree are not yet ripe?
#13.Belhomme Manus; Male; 36 years ; 4 children; Carpenter; 2yrs in Cell; 6eme anne: No. If some are small or not yet ripe the Madame Sarah will pick them along with ones that ripen because she buys the whole tree.
She will pick all mangoes on the tree?
#13.Belhomme Manus; Male; 36 years ; 4 children; Carpenter; 2yrs in Cell; 6eme anne: Yes.
Are all of these mangoes ripe?
Several participants: No.
Who buys these mangoes from them?
#13.Belhomme Manus; Male; 36 years ; 4 children; Carpenter; 2yrs in Cell; 6eme anne: No.She sells them to buyers who will sell them on the streets.
A participant: Special at home.
Just to be clear, when the Madam Sarah comes, she picks all the mangoes?
(Several participants are talking at the same time.)
#13.Belhomme Manus; Male; 36 years ; 4 children; Carpenter; 2yrs in Cell; 6eme anne: Wait. Wait, let me tell you. I said, on principal, when we are picking the mangoes for the Cell we go the first time and pick mangoes. We go a second time and pick more mangoes. We can go at least 4 or 5 different times to 1 mango tree. After that we won’t pick more mangoes from the tree for the Cell again.
We are talking about that mangoes that are not yet ripe that are left behind on the tree. The ones that the Packing House will not take which will be sold to a Madame Sarah, what do you do with them?
Public: No. There are no more. On the last stage all the mangoes are ripe. All the mangoes will be ripe on the last stage. All the mangoes. All of them will be ripe.
Can some please clarify this for us?
#13.Belhomme Manus; Male; 36 years ; 4 children; Carpenter; 2yrs in Cell; 6eme anne: Listen, let me tell you something..,,
(A female participants is talking at the same time as number 13)
#13.Belhomme Manus; Male; 36 years ; 4 children; Carpenter; 2yrs in Cell; 6eme anne: One thing that I know, when hail falls on the mangoes you cannot send that mango to the Packing House because these mangoes will have worms in them.
But you sell them at the local markets?
Public: Yes.
#13.Belhomme Manus; Male; 36 years ; 4 children; Carpenter; 2yrs in Cell; 6eme anne: Well, people still buy them. We are not the ones who send them to local markets. We sell them to the Madame Sarah and they sell them at the local markets. Do you understand?
#18.Philistin Noncilia; Female; 53 years; None; Market woman, farmer; 3yrs in Cell; None: Yes. We sort out the good ones. We keep them until they ripen and remove the mangoes with worms and feed them to the pigs. We put the ones in a basket to sell. Someone will eventually buy them.
You keep the green mangoes until they are ripe?
A participant: Yes, we keep the green mangoes until they are ripe.
#18.Philistin Noncilia; Female; 53 years; None; Market woman, farmer; 3yrs in Cell; None: Yes. To make them ripe after we pick them we put them on the floor for 5 to 6 days until they are good.
Where do you sell them? Do you go to Gonaives?
#18.Philistin Noncilia; Female; 53 years; None; Market woman, farmer; 3yrs in Cell; None: I go to Port au Prince. I go to Gonaives. I go to Pestel. I go to St. Marc. Last Sunday I went to Cinquime to sell mangoes.
(A baby can be heard crying.)
Before Technoserve came was there a nursery already?
Public: A nursery? Yes.
Do you plant mango trees?
#18.Philistin Noncilia; Female; 53 years; None; Market woman, farmer; 3yrs in Cell; None: When the person eats a mango he takes the seed and digs a hole and plants the mango seed.
Do you do that?
A participant: Yes.
Where do plant the mango seed?
Public: At the bottom of banana trees.
#18.Philistin Noncilia; Female; 53 years; None; Market woman, farmer; 3yrs in Cell; None: It’s like you have a banana bush and you plant it between them so animals won’t be able to get to it.
(Several participants are having a discussion among themselves regarding the nursery.)
Did you do a nursery at that time?
Public: No.
A participant: People were doing both.
Was the nursery some kind of project?
A participant: No, it was with KODEVAP
It was with KODEVAP?
Public: Yes.
What is KODEVAP?
Public: It was an NGO.
#11.Darival Elusma; Male; 41years; 2 Children; Teacher; 3yrs in Cell; Rheto: It was an NGO that was working with another NGO named KIYAP
Are they the ones who did the bassin versant (retaining ditches and walls)?
#11.Darival Elusma; Male; 41years; 2 Children; Teacher; 3yrs in Cell; Rheto: Yes, they also did nurseries.
Do you produce more mangoes now or in the past?
Public: We are producing more now. Now we are producing. We produce more now.
Which type of mango did you planted most in the past?
Public : Mango Kon, mango Francis, we planted all kind of mangoes.
#11.Darival Elusma; Male; 41years; 2 Children; Teacher; 3yrs in Cell; Rheto: Francis, why did we planted mango Francis ?
In the past?
#11 continues: Yes. We didn’t have what we call graft. That is why were planting Francis. Because when you take the Francis seed and plant it, it grows as mango Francis. Then came along PIYAP with KODEVAP, they grafted other mango trees into Francis.
I understand. Is there another type of mango that grows better than Francis?
Public : Yes
Which mango sells more at local markets?
#18.Philistin Noncilia; Female; 53 years; None; Market woman, farmer; 3yrs in Cell; None: When you take mango Tisia and Francis to the local markets they sell better at the local market than Blan.
Ok
Participant continues: When the market women see you bring beautiful mangoes, they themselves took the basket from your head and put it on the ground. You then give them a price for the mangoes. Last Sunday I went to Cinquime and it happened like that. When a market woman sees the mangoes have a beautiful color she will try to take them from you before the others try to take them. That happened to me last Sunday.
How do you sell them, per kivet, basket, or do make piles on the floor?
Public: We sell per basket.
#18.Philistin Noncilia; Female; 53 years; None; Market woman, farmer; 3yrs in Cell; None: We bought baskets and covered them very well to carry the mangoes.
That market woman who buys it from you, how would she sell the mangoes?
(Several participants are talking at the same time.)
A participant: We sell it in large and we sell it retail.
#18.Philistin Noncilia; Female; 53 years; None; Market woman, farmer; 3yrs in Cell; None: We sell it to them per basket and they sell it in small piles (by 3s and 4s).
#15.Marie Carme Fils Aime; Female; 39 years; 5 children; Seamstress; 3yrs in Cell ; 8eme anne: Yes. Yes, there was an incongruity on what they say about picking mangoes. We, producers sell and pick our mangoes about 3 times. Here is why we go at least 3 times: Before the Cells were even formed the Animator were already training us. They made us understand that a mango tree has 4 or 3 types of mango.
There is 1 type that will go to the Packing House to be exported. (Someone is coughing) Another type will be sold on our super markets. Another will be sold on the local markets and 1 type will be left on the tree. That is why we producers who are in a Cell don’t go to a mango tree and shake it for mangoes to fall on the ground. We know how not to waste our mangoes.
Not only do we know how to select our mangoes, we know how much each mango cost. We know all that because of the trainings we got from Technoserve. That is why we are not making the same deficit as in the past.
Now you know how valuable the production is?
#15.Marie Carme Fils Aime; Female; 39 years; 5 children; Seamstress; 3yrs in Cell ; 8eme anne: We know how valuable it is.
Ok. Do you only have mango production around here?
Public: No. We have avocado, breadfruit, grapefruit, sweet oranges.
The things you learn from the Cell, are they applicable to other production?
#15.Marie Carme Fils Aime; Female; 39 years; 5 children; Seamstress; 3yrs in Cell ; 8eme anne: No.
Public: No.
#15.Marie Carme Fils Aime; Female; 39 years; 5 children; Seamstress; 3yrs in Cell ; 8eme anne: We haven’t done it yet with the other fruits because we don’t have a market for them yet. But as soon as we find a market for them, for example we will soon be in the season for avocadoes. After the mango season will be the season for kenep[6]. We have a lot of kenep here.
Do you clean your kenep trees?
#15.Marie Carme Fils Aime; Female; 39 years; 5 children; Seamstress; 3yrs in Cell ; 8eme anne: Yes, we clean them.
Where you doing that before Technoserve?
Public : No.
#15.Marie Carme Fils Aime; Female; 39 years; 5 children; Seamstress; 3yrs in Cell ; 8eme anne: No, we didn’t do it before. It is because of Technoserve that we know the more you clean the trees the more they will bear fruits. You do what is called trimming on the trees. You remove the dead branches and leaves. You remove the branches that are preventing the trees from getting enough sun. When you do these things on your trees you get better profit.
Do you clean breadfruit trees?
Public: We don’t produce breadfruit. We don’t have breadfruit.
A participant: Only a few producers have it.
Another participant: Only a few have it.
Public: Yes, only a few have it
You have avocados, right? Do you have oranges?
Public: Yes.
Does that mean you clean all your fruits?
Public: No. We clean them if they have a dead branch.
A participant: As for the oranges, when they have dead branches we clean them to prevent them from dying. As for the avocado trees mostly we climb them. We climb the trees often. Where we can not reach we will pull the branch down.
#8.Dolcius Dolce; Male; 60 years; 3 children; Farmer; None; None: The reason we keep our farms clean is because Technoserve taught us how to keep them clean and if in the future we are able to find a market to sell all of our products, to sell clean products..
Technoserve taught us how to keep our farms clean. We don’t throw trash or anything that is made with plastic in our farms. We do not burn certain things on the farms.
That is why now you will find all of our farms clean. You see me, if there is a market for avocado you can come to me and we will go to my farm. All of the trees are clean.
Thanks to Technoserve who taught how to keep our farms and our local products clean.
Ok.
#14.St. Jn Raymond; Male; 41 years; 2 children; Farmer, painter; 3yrs in Cell; 9eme anne: My name is St Jn. Reymond. I am a member in the Cell Leve Kanpe. Well, I can say since 2013 Technoserve has opened our eyes in Commune of Ennery esspecially us producers from Savanne Carre. Our eyes were closed. The Voltijes had blinded us.
We producers from the 1st Section were mistreated by the Voltijes. Hummm, I remember in 2013 when I first took mangoes to the Packing House and they asked me where the mangoes are from. When I said from the Commune of Ennery, they said that was the first time they heard of Ennery producing mangoes. That had me thinking. Why? The Voltije were buying the mangoes here but when they got to the Packing House they said the mangoes were form Gros Mornes. But the mangoes were form Savanne Carre.
Now with Technoserve we are trained. I remember that until now, when animator Echoune was giving the trainings I took my megaphone and went to several localities to invite them to the meetings. At that time the Voltije came to one of meetings too. He sat with us and listened to all the trainings we were getting. When he saw that Technoserve was going to be a barricade for him, he got up and left the meeting.
(Someone cleans his throat).
I am telling you, since that time he felt that he has problem. That is why the moment the mango season starts they are always close by trying to hear our price. They are trying to buy at the same price with us. That is giving them a lot of problems.
Here is the problem that we are facing. There was a guy who touched that point already. When the Voltijes know the season is near they go all over the community giving money to the harvesters to buy mangoes for them. They can give about $4,000HT[7] to $5,000HT[8] to each harvester to buy their mangoes. If a producer doesn’t have a good understanding about the Cell, it will be very tempting for them to sell to these Voltijes. Because of the situation of the country people have big needs.
But with training we get from the animator we all waited for the Cell to buy our mangoes. What I want to say to Technoserve, it has opened our eyes because we were blind. Nobody was climbing the trees in the past to clean the mango trees and remove the dead branches. Nobody was trimming the trees. If someone said they did that in the past that is a lie. I will challenge anyone who said he did that in the past.
Now everyone is doing it because of the trainings we got from Technoserve. When the oranges are ripe the producer would get a long stick and pick the oranges. He would just pull the fruits. Nobody was cleaning the orange trees. Back in 2012 to 2013, I used to pass under the mango trees and if a mango falls on the ground you would be afraid to pick that mango up because under the trees were so dirty. The other day I was going to a farm and when I walk under a mango tree and if I was eating something and it falls under the tree I would pick it up and eat it. I would eat that thing now because under the tree is very clean.
That is not a small thing. That is something very beautiful. Why? I will say it is because of Technoserve who has given us good trainings, producers are keeping our farms clean.
Ok. Thank you.
#14.St. Jn Raymond; Male; 41 years; 2 children; Farmer, painter; 3yrs in Cell; 9eme anne: A child will be in big trouble if a parent caught him throwing rocks at a mango tree.
The children don’t throw rocks on the trees? That is a big deal.
Public: (Laughing) No.
#12.Gabriel Mexil; Male; 40 years; 1 child; Masonary; 3yrs in Cell; 8eme anne: I want to say thank you to all the producers and all the organizations that are helping us in the mango production. In the past we didn’t care for our mango trees. Now the mango Francis has great value. We used to cut down the mango trees to make charcoal during hard times. But now instead of cutting down trees we are planting more trees. Many producers who have mango Blan and Fil are grafting them to Francis.
We want to say thank you to Technoserve who has helped us give more value to the mango production. We say thank you to Technoserve for last year’s project, the water project. My house now has plenty of water. The water system was broken and we didn’t have the means to get it fix but because of Technoserve we got it fixed now. I want to say thank you Technoserve.
I also want to ask Technoserve to help us find a market for avocadoes. We produce a lot of avocadoes here and each year they go to waste. We don’t have a place to sell them. We are asking Technoserve to assist us on finding a place to sell them.
Now you know how valuable mangoes are, did you in the past use to cut down trees and make charcoal?
Public: No. Yes. Yes.
Where there more mangoes before?
Public: Yes, they we more back then.
Does that mean you grand parents had more mangoes than you?
Public: Yes. Yes.
#11.Darival Elusma; Male; 41years; 2 Children; Teacher; 3yrs in Cell; Rheto: While there was more mangoes but it was not Francis. (Another participant: No.) Yes, there were more mangoes such as mango Fil. (Another participant: Mango Blan) There used to be many mango trees near the river. What has produced more Francis now is the grafting. You understand? Yes, there were more mangoes but they were not Francis. We have more Francis because of grafting.
#16.Belhomme Dieuphene; Male; 44 years; 4children; Masonary, grafter; 3yrs in Cell; 8eme ane: I can say it is because of grafting that we have Francis in the community. KODEVAP started it then they stopped. Then Technoserve continued with that. Now we have more Francis.
Who is doing graft around here?
#16.Belhomme Dieuphene; Male; 44 years; 4children; Masonary, grafter; 3yrs in Cell; 8eme ane: KODEVAP.
Was it KODEVAP that started grafting the other mangoes?
Public: Yes. Yes.
Now, are Technoserve technicians the only one doing graft?
Public: Yes.
There is no one else doing it?
Public: No.
#16.Belhomme Dieuphene; Male; 44 years; 4children; Masonary, grafter; 3yrs in Cell; 8eme ane: No. There is no one else.
Why?
#16.Belhomme Dieuphene; Male; 44 years; 4children; Masonary, grafter; 3yrs in Cell; 8eme ane: There are no other NGOs
(Several participants are talking on the background.)
There no other technician?
Public : Yes, there is.
#11.Darival Elusma; Male; 41years; 2 Children; Teacher; 3yrs in Cell; Rheto: But the producer will have to ask him for it.
That would be done in private?
Public : Yes. Yes.
Is there any produce who knows how to do graft?
Public : No.
(Several participants are talking to each other.)
A participant: That is why we are asking Technoserve to help us get trainers to train us on how to do it.
Can you not find someone who knows how to do it and have the person train you?
Public : No.
Is there no one who knows how to graft who will train you?
I want to say something more about the mangoes. I remember that the Cell sold more mangoes last year. We sold 2 types of mangoes, equitable and organic. But this year the Cell only sold Organic and conventional. A lot of producers names didn’t came out of the list. Those whose names came out only sold a small amount of mangoes. Instead of selling the conventional to the Cell the producers sold them to the Voltijes because they have the same price as the Cell. That is why this year the Voltijes brought more mangoes than the Cells. Another problem was you need to schedule before you can go to the Packing House. Maybe that was because all the mangoes were readied at the same time.
Last year in each week we used to send 2 trucks of mangoes to the Packing House but this year we were able to send only 1 truck per week. The Packing House didn’t want to receive too many mangoes.
I don’t know how Technoserve will help us find more places to sell our mangoes. The equitable market helps us a lot. We need to find a market for both organic and equitable mangoes.
Because we sold less this year the money was less. Last year we did the water project for the community. We can say now all producer in Foukette are singing Technoserve you are truly good. We were able to do that project because of the ristoun.
Well, my friends, I hope you all who are here today continue to help us move forward. There was another thing that they used to do but are not doing it anymore. There was a small credit but now it blocked. We don’t know if it is blocked for good or if it will continue. All the members are complaining about it. I don’t how you can help us move it forward.
We heard alot of the advantages from the Cells, is there anyone here who is not in a Cell?
Harvester: Yes, there are people here who are not in a Cell
Another participant: I was before now I stopped.
Harvester: I am not a member but I understand what the Cells are about. I am not a member but I work for the Cells. I am a harvester for the Cells.
On all the questions you asked there is 1 until now that is not answered. The question about what happen to the mangoes that are left on the trees. Some producers said we pick several times from 1 tree, yes we do that. But sometimes the mangoes are left on the trees and go to waste. The reason is how the Packing House is taking the mangoes. If all mangoes are ripe on the tree we pick only 1 time. The Packing House only take mangoes once per week by that time all rest of the mangoes that were left are ripe. Remember the Packing house only takes mangoes that are green. Now all those mangoes will go to waste and will fall on the ground. The Madame Sarah will not buy mangoes that are already on the ground.
When we pick we take the good ones and leave ones that are not yet ripe for the Madame Sarah. The Madame Sarah will sort them out again and picks the best one from the left overs and leaves the rest. The rest of the mangoes will be ripe by now but we still cannot take them because they are already been sold to the Madame Sarah. The Madam Sarah herself is increasing her price at the local markets because the mangoes are getting fewer. She will not sell her mangoes to the Cell.
I want to ask if there is a solution for that, to take the mangoes in bigger quantity instead. For the Packing house now to take mangoes only 1 time a week but several time for the mangoes not to be wasted. I am also asking for the Packing House to take all of the mangoes, both the good and the bad mangoes, but at a different price each.
What have you heard about the Cell that makes you interested in becoming a member ?
Harvester: What do I hear people say about the Cells? When the Cells were first started I was in the Dominican Republic. I was not here for the trainings. I wasn’t present during that time. I heard about them through a harvester who was working for the Voltijes. Then I made contact with Cells to pick mangoes for them. The reason I am interested in the Cells not only for the price, well I won’t get any ristoun, but for the quantity. The Voltijes will want to take 18 for a dozen but not the Cells. I am a harvester but I also have mangoes too. I sell my mangoes at the Cells too. That is why I am supporting the Cells.
Does that mean someone who is not in a Cell can sell mangoes to the Cell?
Harvester: Only because I am a harvester and I know the difference between good and bad mangoes.
(Several other participants are talking on the background.)
That is because you know what good mangoes are? Does that mean the Cells will take mangoes from producers who are not in a Cell?
Public : Yes. No.
#11.Darival Elusma; Male; 41years; 2 Children; Teacher; 3yrs in Cell; Rheto No. Sometimes during the trainings some harvesters are present and they want to pick mangoes for Cells. Do you understand? Because of that they know the difference between good and bad mangoes.
(Several other participants are talking on the background.)
This year the Cells did not take all the mangoes, did you know all the mangoes wouldn’t be taken?
Public: No. We knew that at the end.
(Silence)
#13.Belhomme Manus; Male; 36 years ; 4 children; Carpenter; 2yrs in Cell; 6eme anne: I have a question to ask you. I want to ask you something. We have mangoes that are black because the land where they are way below. Those trees produce a lot or mangoes.
Black mangoes?
#13.Belhomme Manus; Male; 36 years ; 4 children; Carpenter; 2yrs in Cell; 6eme anne: They are Francis. We call them Freckle mangoes. Their skin is dark. That doesn’t mean that they are not good. If you taste these mangoes you will not want to eat any other mangoes. They are sweeter than the other Francis.
You should give us some while we are leaving.
Public: Laughing.
#13.Belhomme Manus; Male; 36 years ; 4 children; Carpenter; 2yrs in Cell; 6eme anne: Hummm, I want to know as a Cell how to get a market to sell these mangoes. These mangoes are mostly left on the trees. They only sell them at the local markets.
Are they paying less for them?
Public: Yes. They are buying them at a low price.
You mean that those trees only bear mangoes like that ? Is that a type of mango?
Public : Yes that is how they bear fruits. It is a type of mango. Even if you clean the trees they still bear fruit like that.
2 Female participants : That mango is sweeter than mango konn.
#13.Belhomme Manus; Male; 36 years ; 4 children; Carpenter; 2yrs in Cell; 6eme anne: We could go out and bring some for you to taste. I remembered we had Mr. Isaac taste them. He took pictures of them too.
#18.Philistin Noncilia; Female; 53 years; None; Market woman, farmer; 3yrs in Cell; None: Before you leave we will show you some black mangoes.
(Laughing)
Isaac would be in better position to answer that question. What I know is that the international market likes pretty mangoes. It is not the taste that is most interested to them. The mango has to be pretty. Sometimes the fruit might look ugly but it has a great taste and it has more vitamins. But foreigners like pretty fruits.
(Laughing)
Public: Yes. It is sweeter.
#13.Belhomme Manus; Male; 36 years ; 4 children; Carpenter; 2yrs in Cell; 6eme anne: And also there was another mango we have and that we really like. It has thick skin. The season comes after the Francis season. Another name for it is mango Kodok.
Yes, I know that mango.
#18.Philistin Noncilia; Female; 53 years; None; Market woman, farmer; 3yrs in Cell; None: Perry? It is very big and thick. Do you know if Madame Perry buys that type of mango.
No.
#18.Philistin Noncilia; Female; 53 years; None; Market woman, farmer; 3yrs in Cell; None: Ahh, I was going to say….
#13.Belhomme Manus; Male; 36 years ; 4 children; Carpenter; 2yrs in Cell; 6eme anne: I was going to say the same thing.
They are not buying mango Kodok anymore?
Public : Non, they are not buying them anymore.
But they used to buy them in the past ?
Several participants : Yes. They used to buy them in the past. It was a long time ago.
Where they buying mango Blan too?
Public : No.
They never buy it ?
Public : No, They won’t buy mango Blan.
#13.Belhomme Manus; Male; 36 years ; 4 children; Carpenter; 2yrs in Cell; 6eme anne: That is why we are asking for help on finding a market for these mangoes. Seriously, these mangoes are being wasted. If we could find a market to sell them it would be better for us. You see the animator here, when we take our complaints to her, there si nothing she can do. But today we are here with you and we need you to help to find a market for these mangoes. Do you understand?
(Someone is coughing.)
Have you ever try to find another Packing House to sell your mangoes?
Public : No.
A participant: We have not yet done that.
Do you wish to find another Packing House to sell your mangoes?
#13.Belhomme Manus; Male; 36 years ; 4 children; Carpenter; 2yrs in Cell; 6eme anne: Well, we haven’t. (Severalparticipants are having another conversation.) Only if Technoserve order us to find another Packing House then we will.
If Technoserve does what?
Several participants: If they order us to sell to another Packing House then we will. If Technoserve told us to do it we will do it.
Does that mean until Technoserve tells you to sell to another Packing House you will not sell to another Packing House?
#13.Belhomme Manus; Male; 36 years ; 4 children; Carpenter; 2yrs in Cell; 6eme anne:No, we will not do that until Technoserve tells to do it because it was Technoserve who created the Cells.
Public: Technoserve created the Cells. Technoserve is our boss.
If I have a school and I trained you, you don’t have to wait for me to tell you what to do.
#13.Belhomme Manus; Male; 36 years ; 4 children; Carpenter; 2yrs in Cell; 6eme anne; Listen. Let me tell you something. For the moment if Technoserve tells us it cannot help us anymore we will look for another place to sell. Technoserve opened our eyes. We don’t want to betray Technoserve. That will not be a good thing.
Do you have the same feeling for Perry as you have for Technoserve?
Several participants: Technoserve gave us Perry.
#11.Darival Elusma; Male; 41years; 2 Children; Teacher; 3yrs in Cell; Rheto:There was another Cell that was selling mangoes to another Packing House. When they got to that Packing House all the other clients sold their mangoes before they can sell theirs. All the mangoes got rotten because of that. As for me, I spoke to Madame Perry. I asked her to give us the possibility to sell more mangoes. When I am at Madame Perry’s Packing House I feel at home because we are inside we can do whatever we want. She spoke well to us and took great care of our mangoes.
Well, our mangoes went through with no problem. That is why we are not rushing for Technoserve to find another Packing House for us because we feel like the other Packing Houses will not give us a warm welcome like Madame Perry. The other Packing Houses don’t treat us nicely but with Madame Perry we feel at home.
#11.Darival Elusma; Male; 41years; 2 Children; Teacher; 3yrs in Cell; Rheto:Yes.
#14.St. Jn Raymond; Male; 41 years; 2 children; Farmer, painter; 3yrs in Cell; 9eme anne: Well, if Technoserve orients us to sell at another Packing House, as for Perry’ Packing House we will always remember that.
You will what?
Participant continues: We will always remember it. Why? That lady, my friend, when you get to the Packing House whether she knows you were coming or not she welcomes you like you are her own child.(Laughing) If all Haitians were like Madame Perry the country would change.( Laughing) Haiti would change. I am talking about how nice about Madame Perry is but the husband is another story. (Public is laughing.) He is another story. That mister I don’t feel comfortable with him. As for Perry he is not nice. If it was for Madame Perry I would still be in Port au Prince right now.
Public: (Laughing) Perry? Perry? (Laughing)
Do you have direct contact with Madame Perry or is it with the Packing House?
#11.Darival Elusma; Male; 41years; 2 Children; Teacher; 3yrs in Cell; Rheto: We only call the Agronomist. You understand. We went from the bottom to the top.
Did you have this opportunity before Technoserve?
Public: No.
#11.Darival Elusma; Male; 41years; 2 Children; Teacher; 3yrs in Cell; Rheto: Now we went through the animator who contacted the Agronomist. The Agronomist made the call to Packing House. Ok.
If you get to the Packing House and there is a problem who would you call?
#11.Darival Elusma; Male; 41years; 2 Children; Teacher; 3yrs in Cell; Rheto: We call the animator, the one who trained us. She will know what to do. On the day we arrive Agronomist Richmond tells Madame Perry that we are here. At 7 am she would come and ask for the Cell from Savanne Carre. She is the first person to make contact with us at the Packing House and she would help us get our papers in order.
#14.St. Jn Raymond; Male; 41 years; 2 children; Farmer, painter; 3yrs in Cell; 9eme anne: Let me tell you my story too ! (Everyone is laughing.) The other day I went to the Packing House and mangoes were raining on us[9]. Mangoes were being washed and boxed. Well, we got there, Madame Perry said that mangoes from the Cells should go through first. She made sure our mangoes were the first to go in. Until today I don’t think Technoserve will be able to find a person like Madame Perry who will have this kind of alliance with the Cells.
You know when you sell your mangoes that all the mangoes will not be taken. There will be rejected ones. What do they do with the rejected ones?
#14.St. Jn Raymond; Male; 41 years; 2 children; Farmer, painter; 3yrs in Cell; 9eme anne: He takes the rejected one too.
#11.Darival Elusma; Male; 41years; 2 Children; Teacher; 3yrs in Cell; Rheto: He takes the rejected one too. He pays 15 gourdes per crate.
He pays 15 gourdes per crate of rejected mangoes?
#11.Darival Elusma; Male; 41years; 2 Children; Teacher; 3yrs in Cell; Rheto: Yes, per crate.
How many mangoes are in a crate?
(Several participants are talking at the same time. Answers are not clear.)
How many dozen of mangoes are in crate?
#11.Darival Elusma; Male; 41years; 2 Children; Teacher; 3yrs in Cell; Rheto: The crate takes 3 dozen mangoes.
Does that means he buys them for cheap?
(Everyone is talking at the same time.)
A participant: He doesn’t need the rejected ones . The price is 15 gourdes per crate. He just doesn’t need them.
Can you take them back with you if he doesn’t want them?
#15.Marie Carme Fils Aime; Female; 39 years; 5 children; Seamstress; 3yrs in Cell ; 8eme anne: He doesn’t want to. He is not causing trouble but let me tell you that if it was Madame Perry, mhhhhh-smh, in his place she would buy that at better price. Perry takes them for cheap. Sometimes all the mangoes are rotting in the yard and he put them in trucks to be thrown away.
You mean throwing away in the bushes?
#15.Marie Carme Fils Aime; Female; 39 years; 5 children; Seamstress; 3yrs in Cell ; 8eme anne: Yes, in the bushes.
What about if you want to take them back with you?
(Everyone is trying to talk at the same time.)
#15.Marie Carme Fils Aime; Female; 39 years; 5 children; Seamstress; 3yrs in Cell ; 8eme anne: He would not let you do that. Even if we want to take the rejected ones, he would not allow us to take them.
(There is a great discussion between the participants for a few minutes on the topic.)
#13.Belhomme Manus; Male; 36 years ; 4 children; Carpenter; 2yrs in Cell; 6eme anne: We are selling so if he would let us take them we would sell them on local markets like the Madame Sarah. Well, he doesn’t want to let us take them we have to accept that.
Have you ever ask for permission to take them?
#5.Casseus Ordine; Male; 37 years; 5 children; Masonary, Painter; 2yrs in Cell; 9eme anne: We did ask once. The first time we went to the Packing House we asked to take the rejected ones. He was very angry. He said he would return all the mangoes to us if he gives us the rejected ones.
Who did you ask for that?
#5.Casseus Ordine; Male; 37 years; 5 children; Masonary, Painter; 2yrs in Cell; 9eme anne: blan (foreigner) Perry, he didn’t agree.
Public : (Laughing)
Is Perry a foreigner?
Public: (Laughing) We don’t know.
#11.Darival Elusma; Male; 41years; 2 Children; Teacher; 3yrs in Cell; Rheto: He does what works to his advantage because he buys the crate 15 gourdes and resells them for 30 gourdes.
Do you feel that he is betraying you?
#11.Darival Elusma; Male; 41years; 2 Children; Teacher; 3yrs in Cell; Rheto: You understand? He resells it for 30 gourdes right in front of us. At the same time you see pickup trucks taking the mangoes away.
Do you feel cheated?
#11.Darival Elusma; Male; 41years; 2 Children; Teacher; 3yrs in Cell; Rheto: He cheated us.
Have you done anything against that?
Public : No. We have not done anything yet. We can’t do anything.
#11.Darival Elusma; Male; 41years; 2 Children; Teacher; 3yrs in Cell; Rheto: Well, instead of going through a misery you sell the mangoes to him the way he wants to buy them.
#15.Marie Carme Fils Aime; Female; 39 years; 5 children; Seamstress; 3yrs in Cell ; 8eme anne: Each time I remember what happened in 2013 I am more grateful towards Mr. Isaac who is assisting us. I feel good because he is a foreigner with a different skin color who doesn’t ignore us. Sometimes you will find people like him who will humiliate Haitians. I felt very happy when Mr. Isaac came to assist us after we called the Agronomist. At the time we didn’t have Madame Islette as the animator for the Cell. When I called the Agronomist telling that we have trouble selling our mangoes, he told us to wait and he will call Mr. Isaac. Our mangoes came from a land that produce mangoes that are little pale. At the Packing House Perry was about to throw all the mangoes away because he thought the mangoes were immature.
I was overjoyed to see Mr. Isaac walking kop kop kop kop[10] and coming to our rescue. The moment I saw him coming was like water pouring on me. “How can I help? I don’t understand. That is how products are. That’s how the land produce them” said Mr. Isaac. Mr. Isaac was our defence on that day.
He took the mangoes. After, Perry took the mangoes. He was embarrassed. He said, “ I will take them. I will take the mangoes. Sort the mangoes for me.” We had brought in 410 dozens mangoes at the end only 32 dozens were rejected. If Mr. Isaac had neglected us the Cell would not have been successful on that day.
I don’t know if was Mr. Isaac who votes for animators, but I am very happy that we have an animator who understands well. Our animator is very patient. Although sometimes she gets quit excited but she is human. Well, she feels comfortable with us because we have succeeded in many things because of her.
Several participants: (Laughing) Sometimes she gets mad at us.
#15 continues: You know she is human that will happen. She takes her role very seriously. Rain or flood won’t stop her from coming. She is coming all the way from Gonaives and the road is very dusty. We want to say thank you to her. She didn’t owe us that. She is helping us.
The Packing House already knows we are coming before we arrive and how much mangoes we are bringing. We also avoid wasting our mangoes this year. This year we said on each trip or Cell will send a 1000 dozens mangoes. Soley Leve said they will send 1500 on each trip. Each Cells said they will send a big amount of mangoes to the Packing House but sometimes we only able to send 1500 dozen with all 4 Cells combined. If it was not for our animator we would make a big deficit.
Perry would have said to us, “What are these? Did you bring rocks here? Throw them away.” (Laughing) I feel very proud because when we got there she said Good morning to us. I am very happy because I was thirsty for that. I really like that. I like cooperation. I like when people greet me. I have 3 years going to Perry’s Packing House and he has never greeted me. Long live Madame Perry! When she sees us she greets. “How are you? I am happy to see you. Have you yet started? When are the mangoes coming?”
I am a human being. Perry is only a foreigner! I am Haitian but I have blood just like Perry. We both breathe the same air. Perry has no right to act like he is better than me.
Is Madame Perry Haitian?
#15.Marie Carme Fils Aime; Female; 39 years; 5 children; Seamstress; 3yrs in Cell ; 8eme anne: No. She is a foreigner but good people. She greets us and talks with us. “Why are you staying in the sun? There is where you can eat. You can go to the back to eat.” Perry said, “Don’t eat here! Here is not for you!” I want to tell him, “ Perry if it wasn’t for me you would not have a Packing House. I am the producer who brings the mangoes here. I am helping you and you are helping me. You have no right to talk to me like that. I am Haitian and I am proud to be a Haitian woman. I know you said that you are American but you need me. We can work together. We breathe the same air.”
Perry is not Haitian?
#15.Marie Carme Fils Aime; Female; 39 years; 5 children; Seamstress; 3yrs in Cell ; 8eme anne: No. (The public is talking and laughing at the same time participant is talking.) I am Haitian and that is why he acts more important than me.
Didn’t you say that he was Haitian?
#15.Marie Carme Fils Aime; Female; 39 years; 5 children; Seamstress; 3yrs in Cell ; 8eme anne: No. He is a foreigner. I told you that I am Haitian.
Mr. Perry is light skin but he is Haitian.
Another participant: No. No. No. He is a foreigner, pure foreigner.
#15.Marie Carme Fils Aime; Female; 39 years; 5 children; Seamstress; 3yrs in Cell ; 8eme anne: Hummmmm, he is Perry Junior. Perry is his father. No, their last name is Perry.
His father is a foreigner?
Public: Yes. Yes.
#15.Marie Carme Fils Aime; Female; 39 years; 5 children; Seamstress; 3yrs in Cell ; 8eme anne : Both of them are foreigners. He acts like he is better than us.
Public: His father is Perry and he is called Junior.
#15.Marie Carme Fils Aime; Female; 39 years; 5 children; Seamstress; 3yrs in Cell ; 8eme anne: His name is Ralph Perry Junior.
All of you who had spoken said that you don’t want the program to end.
Public : Ohhhh, no. We don’t want it to end.
Don’t forget the program is not here forever. Tell me what you will do to continue making money when the program ends?
#15.Marie Carme Fils Aime; Female; 39 years; 5 children; Seamstress; 3yrs in Cell ; 8eme anne: We will continue ( Another participant : We will continue) because Technoserve showed us how to do business. ( Another participant: Yes.) We are taught management in business. We will continue to practice what we have learned.
A participant : We will continue practice what we had learned.
During that time you have Mr. Isaac and the animators to guide you.
#15.Marie Carme Fils Aime; Female; 39 years; 5 children; Seamstress; 3yrs in Cell ; 8eme anne: That is why when the animators were training us they gave us several examples. One of the example is if we are in this house and the doors are closed, how will we get the mangoes outside? We said we would break the walls. They said if we don’t have anything to break the walls, what would we do? We said that we will go through the ceiling. That means if we don’t have Mr. Isaac to defend us anymore and Madame Perry doesn’t take mangoes from us, we will go to AGWOPAK. If we there is no truck to take us to Port au Prince we will stay in Ponsonde.
Besides more money and the mangoes being more valueable, what other major things has the program done for you?
#15.Marie Carme Fils Aime; Female; 39 years; 5 children; Seamstress; 3yrs in Cell ; 8eme anne: Business management.
Public: Knowledge
#12.Gabriel Mexil; Male; 40 years; 1 child; Masonary; 3yrs in Cell; 8eme anne: The other major thing is water. It brought water to the community. Everyone has water now; they don’t have to go get water elsewhere. That is the biggest accomplishment for the community. If it wasn’t for the ristoun we got we wouldn’t have water now.
I remember there was a water pipe that was broken up there for 8 years. The water never came down here the whole time. We have a project that fixed it half way and until now it still over there. Until now we wouldn’t know when the pipe would come here if it was not for Technoserve. You understand me? You see what happened? These children here will benefit from it. They will know that it was an NGO that trained us and it is the reason why we have water.
It was you who did it?
#12.Gabriel Mexil; Male; 40 years; 1 child; Masonary; 3yrs in Cell; 8eme anne: Yes, we did it because of Technoserve.
Public: Yes. The program.
#14.St. Jn Raymond; Male; 41 years; 2 children; Farmer, painter; 3yrs in Cell; 9eme anne: The biggest knowledge Technoserve gave us is the orchard. We, hummmm, used to plant the small trees freely and the goats or the pigs would come and eat them. Now because of Technoserve everything has changed, because Technoserve gave us wires for the farms. We didn’t know what an orchard was before. We used to plant the trees on top of each other. Now we don’t do that anymore because of Technoserve.
Can’t you have an orchard without wires?
Public: No, you cannot.
#13.Belhomme Manus; Male; 36 years ; 4 children; Carpenter; 2yrs in Cell; 6eme anne: Because of Technoserve we have the Alpha School that is going strong here. It is teaching the seniors how to write their names. Now they will stop putting crosses for their signature. Sometimes when they go to the bank for money the tellers would yell at them for not being able to write their names. Now these seniors are able to write their names.
Does anyone here know where mango Francis came from?
Public : No. We don’t know.
It was already here when you were growing up?
Public : Yes. It was already here.
(Long silence)
I see that we have a lot of women here, is there a special role for the women in the mango production?
(Everyone started talking at the same time.)
#15.Marie Carme Fils Aime; Female; 39 years; 5 children; Seamstress; 3yrs in Cell ; 8eme anne: Everything men do we do it too. Haitian women are the pillar of life. There is nothing a man can do that a woman cannot do as long as she wants to. Men pick mangoes and I pick mangoes too.
Do women climb trees?
#15.Marie Carme Fils Aime; Female; 39 years; 5 children; Seamstress; 3yrs in Cell ; 8eme anne: Ohhh ? I will climb 1 for you to see. If it has any dent I will climb it.
(Laughing)
Several women : I can climb too.
#18.Philistin Noncilia; Female; 53 years; None; Market woman, farmer; 3yrs in Cell; None: What the lady said is a big thing. Last Sunday I was going to travel and the mister wasn’t home. There were 2 mango trees, I took my sack and put on a pair of pants. I picked mangoes and sold them for $30HT[11].
#15.Marie Carme Fils Aime; Female; 39 years; 5 children; Seamstress; 3yrs in Cell ; 8eme anne : We pick, carry , wash, select, and transform mangoes. We do everything.
#11.Darival Elusma; Male; 41years; 2 Children; Teacher; 3yrs in Cell; Rheto: I have a last word to say. I feel since January that Technoserve is becoming weak. You gave an assumption that if Technoserve leaves what would we do. Well, what would we do? I also know for example if you have a child that you are leaving him behind you will some kind of preparation for him. For example if Technoserve leaves we still have the structures for the Cells to still keep contacts with the Packing House. Even if Technoserve is not here it will be like it still here. That is what I wish for. I would wish for Technoserve to make the arrangement for the Cells to keep selling mangoes at the Packing House.
You don’t feel secure at that point? If you never see Isaac again you won’t feel good about that?
Public: Yes.
(Laughing)
#13.Belhomme Manus; Male; 36 years ; 4 children; Carpenter; 2yrs in Cell; 6eme anne: Yes. What we want Technoserve to do for us is the grafting. The grafting system has stopped. Hummm, I am hoping for it to continue.
But can’t you do the graft on your own?
Public: (Laughing) Yes, we can do it. We can do it.
#11.Darival Elusma; Male; 41years; 2 Children; Teacher; 3yrs in Cell; Rheto: Yes. We also had a credit with the producers. We haven’t seen that credit. It has stopped. The credit was an encouragement for the producers to send their children to school after mango season. We are asking Technoserve to see how it can help us with that.
