The Agricultural Development Support II (ADS-II) project in Haiti aimed to establish linkages between software packages to automate the mapping process. The project utilized a geographic information system (GIS) to analyze and study socio-economic variables within their regional and national contexts. The GIS data base was created through digitization of information from existing maps at a scale of 1:100,000 or greater, allowing for manipulation of aggregated statistics.
The national level data base in Haiti, developed through the ADS-II project, contains 11 layers, including Vegetative Cover, Soil Potential, and District Agricole. The data base is structured in grid cells, with a size of 300 X 300 meters, which was considered acceptable for the national, macro-level data base. However, a grid cell size of 1 X 1 meter was considered desirable for capturing specific micro-level data, such as the location of individual fields of corn or rock terraces across farmer property lines.
The Haut Cap Rouge plateau, ranging between 500-800 meters in elevation, has been the focus of farming systems applied research since early 1984. The program has worked with farmers on on-farm testing and improvement of various crops, including corn, sorghum, yams, sweet potatoes, manioc, red and black beans, pigeon peas, cowpeas, coffee, leucaena, sesbania, and other legumeous plants. Many of these crops were studied in the context of the watershed management program, which included construction of rock terraces and erosion controlling vegetative barriers.
The socio-economic data base was established using various statistical packages, including MSTAT for agronomic trial analysis, STATPAC, and LOTUS 123 for socio-economic variables. The data base contains information on various socio-economic variables, including household income, land tenure patterns, and crop yields. The data base was used to study the impact of the watershed management program on the socio-economic conditions of the households participating in the program.
The study found that the watershed management program had a positive impact on the socio-economic conditions of the households participating in the program. The program improved crop yields, increased household income, and reduced poverty. The study also found that the program had a positive impact on the environment, reducing soil erosion and improving water quality.
The ADS-II project demonstrated the potential of GIS technology to analyze and study socio-economic variables within their regional and national contexts. The project showed that GIS technology can be used to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of development programs, such as the watershed management program. The project also highlighted the importance of integrating socio-economic data with GIS data to gain a better understanding of the impact of development programs on the socio-economic conditions of the households participating in the program.