HAITI’S decision to subsidise imported rice into the country increased tensions between farmers and the government with street demonstrations calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Jean Henry Ceant continuing to grow.

The government’s decision is partly an attempt to deal with a deepening economic crisis engulfing the country.

The Chamber of Agriculture and Professions of Haiti’s (Chagha) council opposed the government’s decision, reporting that the decision to subsidise will only strengthen monopolies and weaken local production.

Anti-government protests have swept across Haiti since the beginning of February when citizens and opposition politicians demanded the resignation of President Jovenel Moise after he reduced public spending and announced the nation to be in an “economic emergency.”

In response to the demonstrations, Prime Minister Jean Henry Ceant announced the suspension of tariffs for over sixty tons of imported rice.

Chagha have however opposed this decision as they believe it would put too much pressure on local farmers in the face of unfair competition against imported products, giving an unfair advantage to importing companies.

Mr Ceant met with rice farmers of Artibonite, the main area for rice cultivation, last Sunday and promised to take the necessary measures to strengthen agricultural production. 

According to economists, the ideal strategy to solve the crisis is to widen production and support local agriculture, using policies that back the rice sector among others.

United Nations human rights spokeswoman Michele Bachelet warned of the impact of growing global inequality over income, wealth and access to resources and justice.

She was speaking at a meeting of the UN Human Rights Council, mentioning Haiti as one of the countries experiencing unrest over high levels of poverty and inequality.

“In recent months we have seen people across the world take to the streets to protest,” she said.