Mouvement Paysan de Papaye (MPP) 

LOCATION: Hinche, Haiti

Mouvement Paysan de Papaye (MPP), the largest peasant movement in Haiti, supports rural agricultural workers and focuses on food sovereignty to reclaim Haiti’s independence from global food imports. Recently awarded the Food Sovereignty Prize by the US Food Sovereignty Alliance, MPP is recognized for its efforts to combat the ongoing environmental, humanitarian, and hunger crisis in Haiti. These crises are exacerbated by entrenched legacies of colonization, land grabbing, climate change, and foreign exploitation that undermine local food systems.

Founded in 1973 by Chavannes Jean Baptiste, MPP works directly with farmers to strengthen local food economies through agroecology and build environmental resiliency by planting tens of millions of trees. The organization, composed of over 30,000 peasant members, is structured into three branches: women, men, and youth. Their vision is to create a society where social justice prevails and everyone lives with dignity.

MPP has been a crucial partner of UUSC throughout Haiti’s reconstruction process, particularly after the 2010 earthquake and working with Ecovillages. Today, MPP’s work encompasses a holistic approach with core programs in Agroecology and Climate Justice. Additional programs include comprehensive health care, scholarships for young farmers (especially women), legal assistance, climate change adaptation, combating violence against women, gender equity, integral water management, and ecological habitat for farmers.

Image credit: Mouvement Paysan de Papaye