LA CHAPELLE
Participants
- Fleurisca Malvoisin; Male; 60 years; 3 children; Vet; farmer; 3yrs in Cell; 6eme ane
- Cleure Jeaune Jeanne; Female; 50 years; 2 children ; Market woman, farmer ; 2yrs in Cell; 4eme ane
- Milien Exzame ; Male ; 32 years; 1 child ; Farmer ; Not in a Cell ; 6eme ane
- Nerison Jolene; Female; 28 years; 4 children; Marketwoman; 2yrs in Cell; None
- St Fluer Emanyia; Female; 42 years; 6 children; Farmer; 2yrs in Celle; None
- Arnorld Telus; Male; 29 years; 2 children; Businessman; 7yrs in cell; Segonde
- Ajenoit Vilaire; Male; 43 years; 3 children; Businessman, farmers; 9yrs in Cell; 6eme ane
- Louis Teshna; Female; 39 years; 4 children; Market woman; Not in a Cell; 2eme ane
- Ernest Dulien; Male; 49 years; 5 children; Carpenter; 3yrs in Cell; Prime
(Silence)
What we found to be a bit strange in these numbers is that producers who are in Cell have been winning on all aspects over producers who are not in a Cell. They made more money. They had more in everything expected in planting trees. Why is that?
A male participant: They saw these producers are getting an increase so they started planting more.
That is what seems to be strange. Why are producers who are not in a Cell planting more trees? You would think producers who are in a Cell would be planting more trees. It’s not like that. Do you see what we mean?
A participant: Humhmmmm.
(Participant started responding.)
Can you tell us you number, please?
#6 Arnorld Telus; Male; 29 years; 2 children; Businessman; 7yrs in cell; Segonde: Number 6. To add, I would say producers who are not in a Cell are planting so they can sell to the Cells. That’s what I think.
(Silence)
Are there other possibilities? We can come back to that question. Let’s continue with the presentation.Presentation continues on the changes in how many mangoes are 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 mango is 14 mangoes.
Do you know this information?
Public: Yes, yes, yes.
(Participants are discussing among themselves on how many mangoes are in a dozen.)
Because of the program a dozen now is smaller. It means buyers used to take all that for a dozen now a dozen is only 14 mangoes.
Public: Yes, yes, yes.
The presentation continues on the price change for a dozen mangoes since the program.
#1 Fleurisca Malvoisin; Male; 60 years; 3 children; Vet; farmer; 3yrs in Cell; 6eme ane: The reason they don’t get a raise is because they don’t organize themselves like we do. They are not in a group. They sell their products without any regard. They are selling to buyers from the outside such as Voltije. They lose all the benefits.
Ok. But if you look at these numbers, they are making a profit. Producers who are in a Cell are making better profit but the other producers are also making a better profit than what they used to make. I agree with what you said. Number 9 you can speak.
#9 Ernest Dulien; Male; 49 years; 5 children; Carpenter; 3yrs in Cell; Prime: Because the Packing House is buying mangoes at a higher price now. Now the outside buyers are paying a higher price for the mango. The producers who are not selling directly to the Packing House are still getting a better price than what they used to make. Producers who are in a Cell sell their product directly to the Packing House. Because the Voltije are not buying mangoes from producers who are in Cell now they have to pay a higher price to the other producers.
Ok. Thank you.
The presentation continued on describing the market for the mango production. It also described the difference between then and now.
Can a producer go to the Packing House by himself to sell mangoes. Ok. Let’s say for example Technoserve is no longer here. Can you as producers get together and surpass the Local Contractor and go directly to the Packing House?
Public: We can. We can.
Have you every thought of that before?
Several participants: We did not know we could. No. Before Technoserve we didn’t know we could.
#9 Ernest Dulien; Male; 49 years; 5 children; Carpenter; 3yrs in Cell; Prime: Technoserve has shown us all the benefits there is in selling our mangoes directly to the Packing House. Now if Technoserve closes we will look for another Packing House to sell our mangoes at a good price. We would sell it ourselves.
#4 Nerison Jolene; Female; 28 years; 4 children; Market woman; 2yrs in Cell; None: Yes, I would say the same thing. Before the program we didn’t know about selling our mangoes directly to the Packing House. Now thanks to the program we know how to make money on our mangoes and not let it be wasted.
Now do you feel like you can sell you mangoes without the help of Technoserve?
#4 Nerison Jolene; Female; 28 years; 4 children; Market woman; 2yrs in Cell; None: No. I mean it showed us the route. It showed us the route. We didn’t know it before.
Now you know the route?
#4 Nerison Jolene; Female; 28 years; 4 children; Market woman; 2yrs in Cell; None:Yes. Now we know it.
Can you go sell by yourself?
#4 Nerison Jolene; Female; 28 years; 4 children; Market woman; 2yrs in Cell; None: (Laughing) I can’t go by myself. No. We have to do it with Technoserve because it showed us the route in the first place.
Ok. But you said you knew the route because of the Technoserve.
#4 Nerison Jolene; Female; 28 years; 4 children; Market woman; 2yrs in Cell; None:: No. I can’t do it without Technoserve.
Number 7, would you like to say something?
#7 Ajenoit Vilaire; Male; 43 years; 3 children; Businessman, farmers; 9yrs in Cell; 6eme ane : We used to go before Technoserve was here. But we used to do more work. Before the season starts we would have to leave for Port Prince to find a Packing House that will buy the mangoes from us. If the Packing House agreed to buy the mangos, now you would have to come back and start picking mangoes, put them on a truck and send to Port au Prince. That process was not very organized. The mangoes were not being sold for a good price. The only person making money were the Packing House owners. Even for Madame Perry it was difficult. Now, thanks to Technoserve, when we are picking mangoes the Packing House already knows Lachapelle is picking mangoes and the mangoes should arrive on a specific day. When you get to the Packing House you find a place to sell your mangoes. We now have a guarantee because of Technoserve.
Ok. From all you learned from Technoserve, because you said you used to go before but now it is easier for you, (Yes) what have you learned that made the process easier for you?
#7 Ajenoit Vilaire; Male; 43 years; 3 children; Businessman, farmers; 9yrs in Cell; 6eme ane : Thanks to the trainers who have been giving us good trainings. They trained us. We pick our mangoes and sell to the Packing House. We make more money because of Technoserve.
What is the most important thing you have learned in all the trainings?
#7 Ajenoit Vilaire; Male; 43 years; 3 children; Businessman, farmers; 9yrs in Cell; 6eme ane : The most important thing we learned is how to treat our mangoes. How to better manage the trees to make more money in the production.
What do you mean by treatment? Are you talking about the picking process?
#7 Ajenoit Vilaire; Male; 43 years; 3 children; Businessman, farmers; 9yrs in Cell; 6eme ane : Yes. Yes.
Picking is more important to you? What do you mean by that?
#7 Ajenoit Vilaire; Male; 43 years; 3 children; Businessman, farmers; 9yrs in Cell; 6eme ane: How for you to give better treatment to the mangoes. You wash your mangoes. You dry them so they won’t get burnt. When we get to the Packing House we have beautiful mangoes.
Do you think that process is more important than trimming the trees?
#7 Ajenoit Vilaire; Male; 43 years; 3 children; Businessman, farmers; 9yrs in Cell; 6eme ane : Yes. It’s more important than how we used to do it. The way Technoserve showed us is better.
Ok. Number 1
#1 Fleurisca Malvoisin; Male; 60 years; 3 children; Vet; farmer; 3yrs in Cell; 6eme ane: There are other chemical products that we should not use on our farms especially where we have mango trees. Also to take better care when we are picking mangoes.
- Is there someone else who would like to say more? Number 5
#5 St Fluer Emanyia; Female; 42 years; 6 children; Farmer; 2yrs in Celle; None: Technoserve went further than that. We now know how to trim and wash our mangoes. We now know how to get better quality mangoes. Our mangoes do not have maggots anymore. We don’t tie animals on the farms. We also don’t leave plastic bags on the farms. We harvest better mangoes now.
(A car is driving by)
What does it do for you when you trim you trees?
#5 St Fluer Emanyia; Female; 42 years; 6 children; Farmer; 2yrs in Celle; None: Yes. When we didn’t trim our trees a branch would come all the way on top and goes way down to produce fruits. When that happens we lose money. Now when we trim the trees they produce bigger and better mangoes. We have better quality mangoes.
Do you really see a change?
#5 St Fluer Emanyia; Female; 42 years; 6 children; Farmer; 2yrs in Celle; None: Yes!
Just by trimming the trees you get better quality mangoes? You didn’t know that before?
Public: No.
#5 St Fluer Emanyia; Female; 42 years; 6 children; Farmer; 2yrs in Celle; None: We thought if we did not clean that trees they would produce more. We thought not cleaning them was better for us but it was not better for us.
Number 4, would you like to say something else?
#4 Nerison Jolene; Female; 28 years; 4 children; Market woman; 2yrs in Cell; None: Yes. Another major thing Technoserve did for us is that our mangoes do not get wasted. Technoserve gave us training on how to pick our mangoes. We have a keyet[12] to pick them. Technoserve taught us how to sort our mangoes. When we used to sell before Technoserve the buyers would pick all the mangoes on tree and leave the ones that were not yet ready on the ground. Our mangoes used to be wasted during that time. Now Technoserve has showed us how to sort the mangoes during harvest. Now we are making more money. There is deficit for us producers.
Ok. I want to ask another question. Yes, number 5.
#5 St Fluer Emanyia; Female; 42 years; 6 children; Farmer; 2yrs in Celle; None: To add more on what has been said, for all the good work Technoserve has been doing all over the country, Technoserve has helped the country a lot. First of all, when the Voltije used to buy mangoes from us we would sell them mangoes on credit and they never come back to pay us. Technoserve brought a program in the country that is supporting us. We are now selling our mangoes to a Packing House. Technoserve has done many good things for us. We are able to get credit to help us by sending our children to school. Also with that credit you can go to a bank and get a loan. With that loan you can buy a motor taxi or something else. Now we are functioning better because of Technoserve. In the past you would just go to a mango tree and start shaking it without any regard for whether all the fruits were ripe and ready to be picked and sold. Technoserve taught us which mangoes are ready to be picked and which are not. Further more, we now know what an organic or a conventional mango is. It tells us at what price each one should be sold. Now for those producers who are not in a Cell….(Too much background talking can’t hear what participant said next.)
Ok. You said Technoserve taught you which mango is ready to pick? (Yes) Does that mean you harvest from one tree more than once?
#5 St Fluer Emanyia; Female; 42 years; 6 children; Farmer; 2yrs in Celle; None: Yes, yes, yes.
#4 Nerison Jolene; Female; 28 years; 4 children; Market woman; 2yrs in Cell; None:: No. It has a season.
Can you harvest more than 1 time from a tree?
Public: Yes, during the season. You need to call the Packing House in advance. Before you start picking you have to call the Packing House and let them know,
If you see that the mangoes are almost ready and you call the Packing House, how long can the mangoes stay on the trees before they get spoiled?
#5 St Fluer Emanyia; Female; 42 years; 6 children; Farmer; 2yrs in Celle; None: Around 2 weeks.
They will last 2 more weeks on the tree? That means you have 2 weeks to find someone to buy them from you?
Public : Yes.
Do you only sell to the Packing House? Is there any other buyers?
Public: Yes. There is another one. The local market.
Do you get a good price at the local market?
Public : No. You make small pile with them at the local market.
Ok. I want to be more clear on this topic because I don’t quite understand it. Let us say you go to the farm and pick mangoes the way Technoserve taught you. (Humhummmm) Now you know which mangoes to pick? (Yes) You take the mangoes that are ready to the Packing House. (Yes) But you still have more mangoes left of the trees? My question is this, what do you with the leftover mangoes?
(Several participants started talking)
#4 Nerison Jolene; Female; 28 years; 4 children; Market woman; 2yrs in Cell; None: They are left on the trees because they are not yet ripe. We always sort them to pick out the ones that are ripe. What we do with the leftovers if we don’t take them to the Packing House is sell them to Voltije or put them in a basket to sell at the local market.
Are you selling these mangoes at a better price now? You took training from Technoserve on how to produce better quality mangoes? (Yes) Ok. Now are you making more money at the local markets because of that?
Public: No. The Packing House gives us a better price than the local markets.
Let me explain to you what we are trying to know. Let us say that you have leftover mangoes on the trees but you don’t sell them to the Packing House in Port au Prince. Technoserve gave you training, now you have better quality mangoes than before. Now these mangoes, when you go to the local market with them or sell them to Voltije, do you sell them for a better price than before. Remember, now you have better mangoes. Are you making more money?
(Everyone wants to talk at the same time.)
Let the women speak.
#2 Cleure Jeaune Jeanne; Female; 50 years; 2 children; Market woman, farmer ; 2yrs in Cell; 4eme ane: Yes. Last year I sold mangoes and I didn’t get pay because there was problem at the Packing House. But this year I sold my mangoes to the Packing House and I got paid everything.
Selling to the Packing House?
#2 Cleure Jeaune Jeanne; Female; 50 years; 2 children ; Market woman, farmer ; 2yrs in Cell; 4eme ane: Yes. They paid me well. They paid me well.
#5 St Fluer Emanyia; Female; 42 years; 6 children; Farmer; 2yrs in Celle; None: Let me add something on why we are selling better now. In the past no treatments were done on the mangoes. With the trainings from Technoserve, buyers now know what kind of mangoes we will sell to them. Those leftover mangoes, I am not saying they are not good mangoes. Even if these mangoes were not taken to the Packing Houses, they are still good quality. Buyers will still buy these mangoes from you. But in the past they didn’t care what kind of mangoes you sell them. Even the mangoes that were crushed they would buy them. Now because of the trainings we know to carry our mangoes on a clean basket and to cover them.
Now are you selling these mangoes at a better price at the local market. Who would like to add something else? Number 9
#9 Ernest Dulien; Male; 49 years; 5 children; Carpenter; 3yrs in Cell; Prime: All producers in the program, their one main goal is to sell their mangoes to the Packing House. They don’t want to sell to the other buyers. When Technoserve buys the mangoes from the producers they get a better percentage. (A car is driving by.) When the Packing House doesn’t buy all the producers mangoes, the producers resign themselves and sell to the other buyers. Their goal is to sell their mangoes to the Cells. Technoserve gave us a lot of trainings. We got training on how to mow the land. The producers benefit is Technoserve. The one problem we see is when producers have a lot mangoes but Technoserve cannot take all the mangoes. I don’t know if Technoserve is planning on adding a Packing House so we can sell more mangoes. When the producers want to sell mangoes the Packing House cannot buy all from them.
Ok. Let me ask another question. If you know that the Packing House will not buy all your mangoes, would all of them go to local market?
Public: No. No. No.
Why?
#4 Nerison Jolene; Female; 28 years; 4 children; Market woman; 2yrs in Cell; None: You can’t sell them all in one day. You can’t sell them all at once.
You cannot sell all of them in one day?
#4 Nerison Jolene; Female; 28 years; 4 children; Market woman; 2yrs in Cell; None: No.
(A moto is passing.)
My wife likes her mangoes ripe and a little bit soft. I like my mangoes to be green. I know a lot of people in this country like their mangoes like my wife does. If you pick them while they are green will you lose money on these mangoes?
#4 Nerison Jolene; Female; 28 years; 4 children; Market woman; 2yrs in Cell; None: No.
You will sell them?
Public: Yes.
At the local market?
#9 Ernest Dulien; Male; 49 years; 5 children; Carpenter; 3yrs in Cell; Prime: If you picked mangoes while they are green, they won’t last for long. They will get burnt. You can sell them to buyers who will keep them until they are ripe. You see what I mean? When you pick a big amount of mangoes while they are still green, the sun will burn them. The sun will burn them.
Ok. Does that mean you pick the mangoes depending on the quantity you think you can sell at one time? The mangoes cannot be too ripe or to green. Ok.
I have a question for producer who said before the program that he used to sell mangoes at the Packing House. During that time did you consider yourself a Voltije?
#7 Ajenoit Vilaire; Male; 43 years; 3 children; Businessman, farmers; 9yrs in Cell; 6eme ane : During that time I didn’t know the term Voltije. I didn’t know that name existed.
Where did the name Voltije came from?
#7 Ajenoit Vilaire; Male; 43 years; 3 children; Businessman, farmers; 9yrs in Cell; 6eme ane : It is Technoserve that made me realize I was a Voltije.
(The public started laughing and talking at the same time.)
Did that name exist before?
Public: No!
Was there another name?
#4 Nerison Jolene; Female; 28 years; 4 children; Market woman; 2yrs in Cell; None: We used to say mango buyers, mango buyers.
Public: Buyers. Mango buyers. Mango buyers.
Are these buyers still around?
Public: Yes. Yes.
(Several participants are discussing between themselves about the buyers who they used to sell to)
Is there any other Packing House besides the one Technoserve is associated with? Did other producers sell to that other Packing House? Do they come here to get the mangoes?
#7 Ajenoit Vilaire; Male; 43 years; 3 children; Businessman, farmers; 9yrs in Cell; 6eme ane : Yes, such as House of Germain and Jean Toutou.
How many different Packing Houses are there?
#7 Ajenoit Vilaire; Male; 43 years; 3 children; Businessman, farmers; 9yrs in Cell; 6eme ane : Well, several. For example Croix des Bouquets. Yes, all these different places.
What about you? Where do you go? Is there more mango buyers then before?
#7 Ajenoit Vilaire; Male; 43 years; 3 children; Businessman, farmers; 9yrs in Cell; 6eme ane : Yes. Because of Technoserve we have more buyers now.
Ok. You said that before Technoserve came the name Voltije did not exist?
Public: We didn’t know that name. We used to call them mango buyers.
#7 Ajenoit Vilaire; Male; 43 years; 3 children; Businessman, farmers; 9yrs in Cell; 6eme ane: Let me add something else. This is what the name Voltije means. They are a group of people who are not from the community who come here to buy mangoes. After they buy mangoes they leave with the money and never return. It was not people from the community who were doing the business. That is why they are called Voltije.
Number 3
#3 Milien Exzame ; Male ; 32 years ; 1 child ; Farmer ; Not in a Cell ; 6eme ane: After they pick the mangoes they leave with the money.
#4 Nerison Jolene; Female; 28 years; 4 children; Market woman; 2yrs in Cell; None: That is why we call them Voltije.
#7 Ajenoit Vilaire; Male; 43 years; 3 children; Businessman, farmers; 9yrs in Cell; 6eme ane : Ehummm, the other Packing Houses, when they buy mangoes they buy any sort of mangoes. The mangoes that Technoserve’s Packing House won’t take they will take them. This year, when the Cell took our mangoes to Technoserve’s Packing House, it couldn’t take our mangoes. We had to go to Germain’s House. When we got there they were so happy to see our mangoes. Now they want to work with Technoserve on training their producers to make good mangoes like us. They saw our mangoes were more beautiful and better quality than the others. They now want Technoserve to train their producers to produce mangoes like ours.
#8 Louis Teshna; Female; 39 years; 4 children; Market woman; Not in a Cell; 2eme ane: Each time I see people having meetings, I said to myself “What are they doing? Don’t they have anything better to do?” But it was something very important they were meeting about. I have several neighbors who are in Cell and they told me, “Nouchnanou, why don’t you become a member of a Cell?” I told them that I was not interested. They said, “You are not interested? You will see how important this is in the future.” I started seeing them owning beautiful mango trees. They showed me how they produce better quality mangoes because of the project. They are also getting credit from the program. They even taught them how to do business. I am very interested now to take part in the program. If you are part of a Cell you will get trainings. They meet every month. That is something very important. They have discipline. That is something very nice and I want to be part of it.
Thank you. To continue with you, are you part of a Cell?
#8 Louis Teshna; Female; 39 years; 4 children; Market woman; Not in a Cell; 2eme ane: No.
(Silence)
You said now there are other Packing Houses that want to buy mangoes?
#7 Ajenoit Vilaire; Male; 43 years; 3 children; Businessman, farmers; 9yrs in Cell; 6eme ane : Me?
Yes
#7 Ajenoit Vilaire; Male; 43 years; 3 children; Businessman, farmers; 9yrs in Cell; 6eme ane : Those Packing Houses have been around for a long time.
Ok. Does that mean they are have been buying the whole time? That means you have other options. If Technoserve is gone you still have a place to sell your mangoes. The mangoes won’t be wasted?
#4 Nerison Jolene; Female; 28 years; 4 children; Market woman; 2yrs in Cell; None: I would not like for Technoseve to leave.
Is there more than 1 Packing House that wants to buy mangoes from you?
#6 Arnorld Telus; Male; 29 years; 2 children; Businessman; 7yrs in cell; Segonde: No. There are several.
Where they here before?
#6 Arnorld Telus; Male; 29 years; 2 children; Businessman; 7yrs in cell; Segonde: They have been around for a long time now.
Are they now more eager to buy from you? You told me that at Germain’s House they were very happy with mangoes and want Technoserve to train their producers. Are the other Packing Houses putting more effort to be part of the production now?
#7 Ajenoit Vilaire; Male; 43 years; 3 children; Businessman, farmers; 9yrs in Cell; 6eme ane: They buy a lot of mangoes. They buy a lot of mangoes. And also when the trees are bearing fruits they produce a lot of mangoes. Technoserve’s Packing House cannot buy all of the mangoes. The mangoes are so many it’s like an ocean of mangoes. Technoseve’s Packing Houses will always get mangoes even if we sell to other Packing Houses. But when the mangoes are ripe they cannot stay on the trees for a long time. Technoserve’s Packing House will always get enough good quality mangoes even if we sell to the other Packing Houses because there is always a lot of mangoes.
Female participant: Alot of mangoes, hummhummmmm
The other Packing Houses you mentioned are they your own contacts? Do you have a relationship with them or do they have people on the field buying mangoes for them?
#6 Arnorld Telus; Male; 29 years; 2 children; Businessman; 7yrs in cell; Segonde: Sometimes when you go to Technoserve’s Packing House there is fighting and you can’t get inside. You have to make another decision. You don’t want the mangoes to go to waste so you find another Packing House to sell.
That is what I want to know. Do you find these contacts yourselves or does the Packing House comes find you?
#6 Arnorld Telus; Male; 29 years; 2 children; Businessman; 7yrs in cell; Segonde: No, no
When you sell to these other Packing Houses do they give you a good price?
#6 Arnorld Telus; Male; 29 years; 2 children; Businessman; 7yrs in cell; Segonde: Not really, no. You know, you know you already bought mangoes from the planters when you come back you have to bring back their money. You have to sell them. There is no bonus with these other Packing Houses. There is no, what do you call it? Hummmm, reimbursement.
Do you sell them at the same price with that you bought them?
#6 Arnorld Telus; Male; 29 years; 2 children; Businessman; 7yrs in cell; Segonde: For example, you can buy a dozen at 48 gourdes and you might sell it at 52 gourdes. You do that because you don’t want to be criticized by the producers. You don’t want them to say that you bought mangoes from them and did not pay them back.
How much would you get for them at Perry’s Packing House if you sell them there instead?
#6 Arnorld Telus; Male; 29 years; 2 children; Businessman; 7yrs in cell; Segonde: He would pay you 60 or 64 gourdes.
Number 6, I want to ask you a question.
#6 Arnorld Telus; Male; 29 years; 2 children; Businessman; 7yrs in cell; Segonde: Yes.
Looking at this table here, would you say that you are a Local Contractor?
#6 Arnorld Telus; Male; 29 years; 2 children; Businessman; 7yrs in cell; Segonde: Yes.
Are you an animator?
#6 Arnorld Telus; Male; 29 years; 2 children; Businessman; 7yrs in cell; Segonde: I am not an animator. I am in charge of a Cell.
#7 Ajenoit Vilaire; Male; 43 years; 3 children; Businessman, farmers; 9yrs in Cell; 6eme ane : When the Cell buys mangoes from the producer we take the mangoes to the Packing House. If we get to Technoserve’s Packing House and they cannot buy the mangoes from us we have to find another Packing House to sell the mangoes. We can’t bring the mangoes back.
(Silence)
I have 3 more questions to ask to better understand on the topic. In the past you did not call the buyers Voltije but Mango Buyers.
Female participant: No, stranger.
Now with Technoserve present do you see an increase in the buyers?
Public : No, no.
#4 Nerison Jolene; Female; 28 years; 4 children; Market woman; 2yrs in Cell; None: They are less now because Technoserve has trained us. We sell our mangoes to the Cell. Now when they come there is barely enough mangoes for them to buy.
Do you ignore these buyers now? Let’s say you have a great season and you know the Voltije won’t steal from you. Who would you sell to? You have the Voltije, Perry’s Packing House, Local Contractors, and other Packing Houses. All of the will give you the same price. Would you sell to them all or only to Perry’s Packing House?
#4 Nerison Jolene; Female; 28 years; 4 children; Market woman; 2yrs in Cell; None: Yes.
Why?
#5 St Fluer Emanyia; Female; 42 years; 6 children; Farmer; 2yrs in Celle; None: Yes. I would sell to Perry’s Packing House because after selling I know there will be a bonus coming. That money is a saving. When you are not even aware, Technoserve will send you a bonus.
#9 Ernest Dulien; Male; 49 years; 5 children; Carpenter; 3yrs in Cell; Prime: The selection that is done for Technoserve is not the same selection that is done for these other Packing Houses. On the same tree, after you selected the mangoes Technoserve wants, you can sell the rest to the other Packing Houses and make money. The other Packing Houses will buy these mangoes from you. You can sell to them both. You make money with Technoserve and you make money with the other Packing Houses.
Would you like to say something else?
#1 Fleurisca Malvoisin; Male; 60 years; 3 children; Vet; farmer; 3yrs in Cell; 6eme ane: Producers go directly to Perry to sell their mangoes. There were a series of documents that we signed with the Cell so we can sell our mangoes through them. The Packing House knows each Cell. It knows when a Cell in Lachapelle is coming with mangoes and on what day. We organize ourselves to sell mangoes to the Packing Houses. What I would like is for the Cell to always be organized to sell our mangoes to the Packing House even if Technoserve is not here anymore. I want for us to keep in contact with the Packing House.
Ok, agreed. You said something that is very interesting. Do you have a contract with your Cell? Technoserve trained you and also helped you find a place to sell your mangoes. They give you a free service, right?
Public : Yes.
If I am your boss and I did something for you, you have to do something in return too. I am not giving you anything for free.
(The public is laughing)
Remember I am not Technoserve, I am a researcher and I am trying to understand the production. Will the others criticize you if you sell the mangoes to another Packing House?
#4 Nerison Jolene; Female; 28 years; 4 children; Market woman; 2yrs in Cell; None: Yes. They actually criticize you for that.
#5 St Fluer Emanyia; Female; 42 years; 6 children; Farmer; 2yrs in Celle; None: What I want to ask Technoserve in order for the producers mangoes not to go to waste, it needs to start taking the mangoes earlier. If the mangoes start getting ripe in April, Technoserve needs to start buying them. If some of the mangoes are ripe we need to start picking them right away because the rest will get ripe in a very short time. If we don’t pick them on time they go to waste. We are asking Technoserve to help us with that. We need to start selling earlier than usual. Our Cell starts harvesting in May. We should start selling before that because mangoes are finishing at that time. That is not good for the Cells because the mangoes go to waste if not selling them on time. Some of the producers save their mangoes to sell to the Cell because they don’t want to sell to the Voltije. When they save mangoes for the Cell and the Cell can’t buy them that is a pressure for the animators. They told the producers to save the mangoes for them, now they can’t buy them. That is why we are losing so many mangos.
#9 Ernest Dulien; Male; 49 years; 5 children; Carpenter; 3yrs in Cell; Prime: We know that and Mr. Isaac also knows that. There is a problem with the Packing House. The Packing House used to buy the mangoes without having to schedule a time. This year was a deficit year for us in the Cell. While we were picking mangoes, several other communes were picking at the same time. The Packing House cannot take all the mangoes at the same time. That is why we need to start selling as soon as the mangoes are ripe. The problem is that when they give you a schedule to come and sell at the Packing House. By that time the mangoes are ripe. The Packing House cannot take all the mangoes at one time so the mangoes got rotten. In order for us producers to sell our mangoes Tecnoserve needs to have a contact with more than 1 Packing House. We need to expand more because our trees bear a lot of mangoes.
Number 4, would you like to say something else?
#4 Nerison Jolene; Female; 28 years; 4 children; Market woman; 2yrs in Cell; None: Yes. What I want to say is that the trees produce a lot of mangoes. The man said that Technoserve needs to expand to another Packing House because he is afraid Technoserve won’t be able to buy all the mangoes we are producing. But what I want to say is that if Technoserve could not buy all the mangoes it would not be giving us more trees to plant. Maybe we are not following what the trainings say. If Technoserve is giving us more trees to plant that is because it knows it will be able to help us sell all the mangoes.
How much money you think Technoserve is getting from Perry?
#4 Nerison Jolene; Female; 28 years; 4 children; Market woman; 2yrs in Cell; None: I don’t understand, no.
Perry’s Packing House is getting benefits, right? It’s getting a benefit from what we are talking about. You are selling your mangoes at Perry’s Packing House. Is that right?
Public : Yes.
But you said that you have a good relationship with Perry’s Packing House because you provide it good quality mangoes. Technoserve trained you. Now if they don’t buy the mangoes you won’t want them to go waste. You have the choice of going to another Packing House. What I want to say is that nothing is given for free. Have you ever tought about how much Perry is paying Technoserve? Who is paying Technoserve and why?
(Silence)
You said something very important when you said that you are producing a lot of mangoes and the Packing House cannot buy all of them. You also said that Technoserve is giving more trees to plant. Why is that?
#4 Nerison Jolene; Female; 28 years; 4 children; Market woman; 2yrs in Cell; None: Yes, thats what I think. I don’t quite understand why. The mangoes will always be good. The reason that Technoseve is giving us more trees is because it can take all the mangoes. If they are asking us to produce more they will help us with selling them all.
Ok. Let’s change this idea into something else. Technoserve is providing you with young trees, do you want to plant more trees?
Public: Yes. We plant a lot of trees.
Do you plant trees without help from Technoserve?
#4 Nerison Jolene; Female; 28 years; 4 children; Market woman; 2yrs in Cell; None: No. We used to plant trees but planting was not very interesting to us. Now with Technoserve we are eager to plant more. Not only we get trees from Technoserve, we also get barbwire to protect our farm. Technoserve helps us a lot.
Number 4, did you use to plant trees before Technoserve was here?
#4 Nerison Jolene; Female; 28 years; 4 children; Market woman; 2yrs in Cell; None: Yes. I used to plant but I didn’t give that any importance. Now Technoserve showed me the right way, I value planting more.
Which one you plant the most, Francis, Blanc, or Konn?
#4 Nerison Jolene; Female; 28 years; 4 children; Market woman; 2yrs in Cell; None: We only used to eat mangoes. Like I said, we might sell them at the local market.
Ok. Now with Technoserve presence the priority is producing good mangoes?
Public: Yes.
Well before Technoserve which category you used to plant more of?
Public: All categories, all kind of mangoes.
Which one was selling more at the local market?
#1 Fleurisca Malvoisin; Male; 60 years; 3 children; Vet; farmer; 3yrs in Cell; 6eme ane: As for me before Technoserve was on the field, I saw the necessity to plant more mango Francis. Because the other kind like Jerimie, Kodok, and Blanc don’t need to be planted. They just started growing on our farms without being planted. The mango Francis is more difficult to have on the farm because it requires for you to plant it. Well, on one farm I have 10 mango Francis trees that were bearing fruits before Technoserve was here. I saw the necessity to plant them.
Humhumm, what I wanted to add is that at Madam Perry’s there is a benefit for us. Not only do we get a good price but we also receive a bonus and money to do social activities. We have access to credit and also the movement gives us strength in the production. Something I also want to add is, for instance, we have Agropack that should also associate with these Packing Houses too. We are going to have alot of mangoes in the future. We grafted many mango trees and soon they will be producing. We need more Packing Houses to associate with Perry’s Packing House so we can have enough Packing Houses to sell our mangoes too.
A few minutes ago you said that you need to contact the Packing House first before bringing mangoes. Were you talking about Madame Perry?
#6 Arnorld Telus; Male; 29 years; 2 children; Businessman; 7yrs in cell; Segonde: Well the other Packing Houses, as soon as you arrive with a truck of mangoes they bought it from you.
Does that means you have to contact Madame Perry Packing House first to schedule before you can come?
#6 Arnorld Telus; Male; 29 years; 2 children; Businessman; 7yrs in cell; Segonde: There is a code. The mangoes they buy needs to be equitable or organic. They want to make sure that farms follow the proper procedures. The mangoes should not have any mark on their skin. When you get to the Packing House you have to tell them which Cell you are from. If I want to sell a truck of mangoes to Madame Perry I need to provide my code and let it be known that I am coming in advance. That’s the thing. The other Packing Houses are not like that. You come with the mangoes and they buy them from you.
To whom would you make that call too? Is there someone acting like a bridge between you and Madame Perry or do you call directly to the Packing House?
#6 Arnorld Telus; Male; 29 years; 2 children; Businessman; 7yrs in cell; Segonde: : When I have mangoes?
Yes.
#6 Arnorld Telus; Male; 29 years; 2 children; Businessman; 7yrs in cell; Segonde: At the beginning, humhummm, the Cells would call directly to the Packing House. There was a number that you could call and say the animator from this specific Cell is sending mangoes. Now you have to schedule first and you need to have a number code. The animators are responsible to let them know when the mangoes are coming in order for you to pass through when you get to the Packing House.
Are these animators here?
#6 Arnorld Telus; Male; 29 years; 2 children; Businessman; 7yrs in cell; Segonde: Yes, in each Cell there is an animator.
Do you sell mangoes to the Dominicans?
Public : Dominicans? No!
Why?
#6 Arnorld Telus; Male; 29 years; 2 children; Businessman; 7yrs in cell; Segonde: They buy tamarind sometimes.
Is there a big market for tamarind?
#6 Arnorld Telus; Male; 29 years; 2 children; Businessman; 7yrs in cell; Segonde: No. The market is not that big. It’s only a small group of peasants who buys them and sells it at the border. Just small group of who does that.
Before Technoserve was here did any other organization exist? Did you as producers ever get together and create an organization?
#9 Ernest Dulien; Male; 49 years; 5 children; Carpenter; 3yrs in Cell; Prime: In the past, not even the Voltije were buying mangoes. When the mangoes were ripe people just ate their mangoes or fed the mangoes to animals. When the animals don’t want to eat them they stay under the trees to rot. Humhummm, it is now we have Voltije buying our mangoes. Then we had Technoserve train us. Now everyone has an interest in the mango production. But in the past people would just go to their neighbor’s farm and pick a sack to eat. Producers didn’t sell mangoes back then.
Now do you have more Voltije then before?
#9 Ernest Dulien; Male; 49 years; 5 children; Carpenter; 3yrs in Cell; Prime: The Voltije are still coming. The reason they are still coming is because the other Packing Houses need them to come. The producers are now more interested in the production because of Technoserve trainings. Now Technoserve needs to associate with more Packing Houses because it has trained a lot of producers and the producers need a place to sell their mangoes.
Talking about planting mangoes, now you have a great interest in planting mango Francis and Technoserve is helping you with planting. You have an orchard now. Have you ever planted without help from Technoserve?
#5 St Fluer Emanyia; Female; 42 years; 6 children; Farmer; 2yrs in Celle; None:: With the training we got from Technoserve now we can do it.
You can do it now? Did you plant any mango trees without any help from anyone? I mean by taking the seeds and plant it yourself. Have you ever done that?
#4 Nerison Jolene; Female; 28 years; 4 children; Market woman; 2yrs in Cell; None: Yes, I planted trees before.
When was the last time you did that?
#4 Nerison Jolene; Female; 28 years; 4 children; Market woman; 2yrs in Cell; None: I planted trees before. What I want to say is that with the training I am better at planting trees than before.
Now you are planting mango trees the right way? When was the last you planted a tree besides from the orchard?
#4 Nerison Jolene; Female; 28 years; 4 children; Market woman; 2yrs in Cell; None: No. I have mango trees that have been producing a long time and are still producing now. (Laughing)
You have them in your farm now?
#4 Nerison Jolene; Female; 28 years; 4 children; Market woman; 2yrs in Cell; None: No. I have them now. Technoseve gave them to me and I planted them.
Do you have young trees that you planted yourself with help from Technoserve?
#4 Nerison Jolene; Female; 28 years; 4 children; Market woman; 2yrs in Cell; None: Yes. I have trees. I have.
You have 1?
#4 Nerison Jolene; Female; 28 years; 4 children; Market woman; 2yrs in Cell; None: I don’t just have one. I have several. I have more than 1.
Technoserve didn’t give them to you?
#4 Nerison Jolene; Female; 28 years; 4 children; Market woman; 2yrs in Cell; None: Technoserve gave me some and I bought some myself.
Number 6
#6 Arnorld Telus; Male; 29 years; 2 children; Businessman; 7yrs in cell; Segonde: Here is how people used to do it. Farmers didn’t know about putting seeds in a bag to make a nursery. They used to just dig a hole at the bottom of a banana tree and plant the mango seed. The trees rise by themselves. Sometimes farmers would even forget that they planted a tree. Farmers didn’t trim their mangoes. You know what type of mango it is after it bears fruit.
#4 Nerison Jolene; Female; 28 years; 4 children; Market woman; 2yrs in Cell; None: Now we have training and how to plant them. We take care of our trees to make them grow. In 5 years your trees are bearing fruits.
Does that mean before Technoserve you didn’t know how plant trees properly?
#4 Nerison Jolene; Female; 28 years; 4 children; Market woman; 2yrs in Cell; None: I said for now we are doing it with Technoserve.
Were you planting before Technoserve?
#4 Nerison Jolene; Female; 28 years; 4 children; Market woman; 2yrs in Cell; None: Yes.
How long ago was that? Year ago?
#4 Nerison Jolene; Female; 28 years; 4 children; Market woman; 2yrs in Cell; None: Yes. No. Years ago in the past.
How many mango trees do you have?
#4 Nerison Jolene; Female; 28 years; 4 children; Market woman; 2yrs in Cell; None:: I have 1 that I planted myself.
You planted only 1? You have only 1 that is bearing fruits?
#4 Nerison Jolene; Female; 28 years; 4 children; Market woman; 2yrs in Cell; None: No. Not only 1. I have several.
How many do you want to have?
#4 Nerison Jolene; Female; 28 years; 4 children; Market woman; 2yrs in Cell; None: Well, I planted several now. I have a lot now because I have an orchard.
How many trees do you want to have?
#4 Nerison Jolene; Female; 28 years; 4 children; Market woman; 2yrs in Cell; None: Humhummm, I want to have a great quantity if I have enough land to plant on.
(Several participants started laughing)
What about you number 8, do you have young mango Francis trees in your farm?
#8 Louis Teshna; Female; 39 years; 4 children; Market woman; Not in a Cell; 2eme ane: I have 3.
You have 3?
#8 Louis Teshna; Female; 39 years; 4 children; Market woman; Not in a Cell; 2eme ane: Yes.
Where they you get them?
#8 Louis Teshna; Female; 39 years; 4 children; Market woman; Not in a Cell; 2eme ane: They arise by themselves. We ate the mango and planted the seeds somewhere and they rise by themselves then we poke them.
They rise by theirselves?
#8 Louis Teshna; Female; 39 years; 4 children; Market woman; Not in a Cell; 2eme ane: We ate them and planted the seeds. They rise by themselves.
How did you know they were mango Francis?
#8 Louis Teshna; Female; 39 years; 4 children; Market woman; Not in a Cell; 2eme ane: It was mango that I ate. I put the seeds somewhere and poke when they grew.
By poking do you mean you removed them where they were and put them somewhere else?
#8 Louis Teshna; Female; 39 years; 4 children; Market woman; Not in a Cell; 2eme ane: Yes.
What about you, how many do you have?
#6 Arnorld Telus; Male; 29 years; 2 children; Businessman; 7yrs in cell; Segonde: 4 trees.
Did you plant them or did they rise by themselves?
#6 Arnorld Telus; Male; 29 years; 2 children; Businessman; 7yrs in cell; Segonde: My father left them and now I look after them.
Did your father poke them?
#6 Arnorld Telus; Male; 29 years; 2 children; Businessman; 7yrs in cell; Segonde: Yes.
Do you have any?
#9 Ernest Dulien; Male; 49 years; 5 children; Carpenter; 3yrs in Cell; Prime: Yes.
How many you have number 9?
#9 Ernest Dulien; Male; 49 years; 5 children; Carpenter; 3yrs in Cell; Prime: I have 3 mango trees that I planted that have been bearing fruits for a long time now. I have sold mangoes to Technoserve from these trees for the past 3 years.
Are these trees mango Francis?
#9 Ernest Dulien; Male; 49 years; 5 children; Carpenter; 3yrs in Cell; Prime: Yes. I planted them myself. I also have some that I grafted that are producing now. I also have more trees that I bought myself and planted.
From Technoserve? From an orchard?
#9 Ernest Dulien; Male; 49 years; 5 children; Carpenter; 3yrs in Cell; Prime: Yes. We planted mangoes. We have trainings on how to properly plant them and there are organizations that are selling trees. I brought trees from them and planted them. Now these trees should be producing next year.
How many trees do you have?
#9 Ernest Dulien; Male; 49 years; 5 children; Carpenter; 3yrs in Cell; Prime: I have 5.
#1 Fleurisca Malvoisin; Male; 60 years; 3 children; Vet; farmer; 3yrs in Cell; 6eme ane: I have 12 mango trees. I have 5 that are mature and are producing. I also have some that are 3 or 2 ½ years old. Every year I continue planting more trees.
Where did you get those trees?
#1 Fleurisca Malvoisin; Male; 60 years; 3 children; Vet; farmer; 3yrs in Cell; 6eme ane: No. From mango trees that are producing I did a nursery and then planted them.
You do your own nursery?
#1 Fleurisca Malvoisin; Male; 60 years; 3 children; Vet; farmer; 3yrs in Cell; 6eme ane:: Yes, my own.
Technoserve didn’t help you with that?
#1 Fleurisca Malvoisin; Male; 60 years; 3 children; Vet; farmer; 3yrs in Cell; 6eme ane: No, no. I got the training and I did it myself.
Where did you get that training, from Technoserve?
#1 Fleurisca Malvoisin; Male; 60 years; 3 children; Vet; farmer; 3yrs in Cell; 6eme ane: I did them myself. My trees were already here before Technoserve.
Male participant: That is not the question. Who helped you?
#1 Fleurisca Malvoisin; Male; 60 years; 3 children; Vet; farmer; 3yrs in Cell; 6eme ane: I knew mangoes were a necessity and I knew how to plant them so I planted them.
Would anyone like to add something else?
(Silence)
You mentioned all the great changes Technoserve did for the production besides money what is the major change Technoserve did for you?
#9 Ernest Dulien; Male; 49 years; 5 children; Carpenter; 3yrs in Cell; Prime: Trainings is the major thing Technoserve did for us. We got a lot of trainings from Technoserve about agriculture activities. We even get training on how to do business better. Besides the mango production we got training from Technoserve that has changeed our lives. That is why we want Technoserve to continue working with us. We have other products that we would like to sell such as bananas. We have a great quantity of bananas here but we don’t have means to sell them.
Do you organize within the Cell to sell other products? Maybe selling tamarind.
#6 Arnorld Telus; Male; 29 years; 2 children; Businessman; 7yrs in cell; Segonde: We did ask Technoserve to help us in the banana and the pumpkin production. We asked to help us find a market to sell them.
Have you look for a market yourselves?
#6 Arnorld Telus; Male; 29 years; 2 children; Businessman; 7yrs in cell; Segonde: We planted them.
But you are in a Cell you could get together and look for a market to sell bananas.
#1 Fleurisca Malvoisin; Male; 60 years; 3 children; Vet; farmer; 3yrs in Cell; 6eme ane: The means, we don’t have an available fund to do that in the Cell to buy the product. For example we have peanut production that is very good, we could buy it and resell it. We have bananas in quantity here but we don’t have the means to buy it and resell it.
We have several women present here. Ladies tell us about your role in the mango production. As women do you have a specific role in the production?
(Silence and several women are talking between themselves.)
#4 Nerison Jolene; Female; 28 years; 4 children; Market woman; 2yrs in Cell; None: Yes. There are things that women do, like washing. Washing and drying are for women.
What about selling?
#4 Nerison Jolene; Female; 28 years; 4 children; Market woman; 2yrs in Cell; None: Everyone sells. The men sell depending on.. (Participant got interrupted by the surveyor).
Do men sell mango at the local market?
#4 Nerison Jolene; Female; 28 years; 4 children; Market woman; 2yrs in Cell; None: The men also sell depending on who is in charge of the Cell.
(Several participants started laughing.)
Male participant: No. That is not the question. Do men sell mango at the local market?
#4 Nerison Jolene; Female; 28 years; 4 children; Market woman; 2yrs in Cell; None: No! (Laughing) A man should not be carrying a basket of mangoes on his head to sell at the local market.
(The public is laughing.)
Why?
#4 Nerison Jolene; Female; 28 years; 4 children; Market woman; 2yrs in Cell; None: Ahhhhhhh, that is not a man’s role. That’s not something for a man to do.
Will he be criticized for that?
#4 Nerison Jolene; Female; 28 years; 4 children; Market woman; 2yrs in Cell; None: Yes. He will be critisized. That’s too low for a man.
A man can only sell at the Packing House, be a Voltije, or a contractor. Do more men sell to the Packing House or to contractors then women?
#4 Nerison Jolene; Female; 28 years; 4 children; Market woman; 2yrs in Cell; None: No. It’s a mixture of both, men and women.
Isaac: I want to add something. Is there anyone here who accompanies the mangoes to the Packing House? Has anyone here done that?
Several participants: No. I have not. I don’t think so.
Who would like to do it?
Male participant: Traveling is difficult.
For the women?
Several participants: Yes.
Why is it difficult?
#6 Arnorld Telus; Male; 29 years; 2 children; Businessman; 7yrs in cell; Segonde: Last week there was a group of people who wanted to go to Perry’s Packing House but didn’t go. There was a group of women who accompanied a truck of mangoes to the Packing House they got raped on the way. They also stole their money.
Are they from here?
#6 Arnorld Telus; Male; 29 years; 2 children; Businessman; 7yrs in cell; Segonde: Yes. They took their golden necklace, their money, and also raped them. They beat them and then raped them. That is why the women are not too eager to go but the men are available to go.
Where did they stop them?
#6 Arnorld Telus; Male; 29 years; 2 children; Businessman; 7yrs in cell; Segonde: On Morne Lasel on the Plateau.
Were they any men with the women?
Public: There were men. The thieves tied and beat them.
Male participant: You see that man over there? His head is that big because the thieves slapped him so hard.
(The public laughs.)
#6 Arnorld Telus; Male; 29 years; 2 children; Businessman; 7yrs in cell; Segonde: The good thing for us, when we heard the news, we took another road through St. Marc.
How many thieves were they?
Public: Several, it was at night. They had big guns. It was dark. They covered their faces and raped the women.
#1 Fleurisca Malvoisin; Male; 60 years; 3 children; Vet; farmer; 3yrs in Cell; 6eme ane: It’s on the road that is called Snake Mountain. It’s before you get to Mirebalais. There are no houses in that area only woods. They hid in the woods and came out at night. People are being killed all the time on the road. They shoot them and threw them in the lake. There are lots of deaths on that road.
#6 Arnorld Telus; Male; 29 years; 2 children; Businessman; 7yrs in cell; Segonde: Near the Artibonite, on the curve there is an antenna there.
Before you get to Peligre? On that road? On those mountains?
Public: Yes, yes, yes.
#1 Fleurisca Malvoisin; Male; 60 years; 3 children; Vet; farmer; 3yrs in Cell; 6eme ane: When you get to Lachapelle.
Ahhhh, ok. On that road. Ok. We want to say thank you.
Isaac: Excuse me. I have a few of questions. There are some harvesters here. I am right? (Yes) My question is for them. How did the activities in Cell create jobs in the community? Did it create some kind of stability for you? Do you see what I mean?
Male participant: Yes. Let me tell you how it is. For the job is only during the mango season. For example someone might have a mule or a horse and during season for them to make some money and they can load you a horse. It’s only these types of jobs. The harvester makes a small percentage. The washer makes a small percentage. It’s these types of jobs that I see.
Isaac: Are you a harvester?
Male participant continues: Ummm-hummm.
(Participant is talking very low can’t hear what he is saying.)
Isaac: Was it like that in the past for workers who worked in the production?
Male participant continues: They used to get paid.
Isaac: With the presence of the Cell does that create more jobs in the community?
(Silence)
Male participant continues: I don’t quite understand.
Isaac: Does the Cell create other opportunities for the community.
#6 Arnorld Telus; Male; 29 years; 2 children; Businessman; 7yrs in cell; Segonde: Yes. It is good because we are selling more mangoes now. There is reimbursement for the community. If we have a small project for the community like fixing corridor that get muddy when it rains or creating an alpha school after selling the mangoes we in the community make the decision to fix that problem. (The public is being noisy can’t hear what participant said next.)
Isaac: The last question is for the lady with number 8. You said that you are not in a Cell?
#8 Louis Teshna; Female; 39 years; 4 children; ; Not in a Cell; 2eme ane: Yes.
Isaac: Good. Do you have nursery of mango Francis?
#8 Louis Teshna; Female; 39 years; 4 children; Market woman; Not in a Cell; 2eme ane: Yes, I have a nursery.
Isaac: Do you sell them?
#8 Louis Teshna; Female; 39 years; 4 children; Market woman; Not in a Cell; 2eme ane: I don’t sell them.
Isaac: It is because of this meeting we have today that makes you want to be part of a Cell or was it because you saw the Cell members having important meetings?
#8 Louis Teshna; Female; 39 years; 4 children; Market woman; Not in a Cell; 2eme ane: No. I went to a … ( A lot of different sounds can be heard. The rest of the sentence cannot be heard)
Isaac: That’s what you saw ? Did you ever talk to your neighbors about the Cell?
#8 Louis Teshna; Female; 39 years; 4 children; Market woman; Not in a Cell; 2eme ane: I told them it is something that is very important.
Isaac: Yes, you said it is something that is very important but why?
#8 Louis Teshna; Female; 39 years; 4 children; Market woman; Not in a Cell; 2eme ane: If this program could stay forever it would change our lives.
Thank you everyone. I want to ask 1 last question. Does anyone know the history of mango Francis? Where it comes from?
Public: The history? No, we don’t know. It is in Africa.
Is it a fruit that has been imported?
Public: Imported, imported.
Do you know when it came to country?
(The participants are discussing about the date.)
Is it from the Dominican Republic?
Male participant: The Dominican Republic!? No! They don’t have this mango. They only have small mangoes.
Male participant: They said it came from Russia or from Africa.
Isaac: It came from Jamaica. When it first came it was not yet mango Francis. It became mango Francis in Haiti.
(Public is laughing.)
Public: You are better than us.
Thank you everyone for your presence today.
