Unikode starts with Ecocert Organic certification as a first step in the process, and is seeking to reuse waste root as a distilling fuel source and improve plant efficiency and reduce environmental impact and consumption of petro carbons. Using the organic certification Unikode research, design and implement a new cropping system containing the organic regulatory required elements of erosion control and mixed cropping. To this end Unikode is seeking customers and other partners that wish to support this effort.  Unikode is open to explore with potential partners all avenues to improve the production system and end product.

Anomalies of Vetiver Cropping.

               The agronomics of Vetiver is very different to food crops. The land dedicated to Vetiver is traditionally continuously planted in Vetiver. Some cropped fields have been in Vetiver for generations.

                The root is the harvested part of the plant.  As with so many other essential oil crops difficult growing conditions produce the best quality Essential Oils. When a new parcel is converted from food crops, (manioc, corn or millet) for the first three years the oil yield is low and the plants go to seed/flower yearly expending quantities of plant energy and resources. After three years of continuous Vetiver cropping the ground starts to be more productive of high oil yielding roots but nutritionally depleted. Oil content of the root is highest when the soil is dry. From one day to the next a rainfall will reduce the oil yield. The Vetiver growing areas of Haiti have been growing root since the 1930s. Vast areas of hillsides and hill tops are planted in Vetiver. The Vetiver cropping areas is around Les Cayes Plain in the southwest of Haiti . The roots are optimally harvested in a 12 to 18 month cycle based on the original replant date. The replanting occurs on the same day as the harvesting and is carried out by the same person.  

                  In some areas where there is pressure for income, the roots are harvested twice a year.  The six month harvest cycle yields less oil than the once a year harvest cycle yield and costs twice as much in digging labor to the grower. Unikode proposes to implement 2 premium payments (pre-school opening and New year). This socially responsible and innovative approach will increase yield, reduce erosion and reduce grower cost. There are no disease or pest of Vetiver and hence no management for that. Occasionally a parcel might require weeding which is done by hand with a sickle. Reducing the harvest to once a year basically reduces the growing costs by half.

Rotation and Erosion Control Plan, Vetiver Cropping.

                 Permanent Bands of contour planted Vetiver will be planted & maintained across all Vetiver fields. The bands will be placed at 2 to 5 meter intervals depending on the slope. Forty five degree slopes or greater will be contoured at 2 meter intervals. Fifteen degree slopes will be contoured at 5 meter intervals. Depending on specific conditions the erosion control banding will be increased as needed in the confluences of hillsides.  Hard (rock or other) dams might be implemented. The non harvested Vetiver bands could be interplanted with leucena leucophelia or other woodies.

               The bands of Vetiver will be alternately harvested. The Vetiver grass will be laid back on the newly replanted soil as mulch to cover and the replanted clumps. The grass leaves will not be burned. Vetiver will be harvested at twelve months or more after the re-planting date. Harvesting will not be done in the rainy season.

                                  LES CAYES, HAITI