More than 4,000 metric tones of Haitian Congo Peas estimated at $2 million US dollars are exported annually to the Dominican Republic, according to a study regulated by the Haitian-Dominican Relations Laboratory.

Alex Bellande, consultant of LAREHDO, said that 80% of Dominican imports come from the center region of Haiti (Plateau Central). This product processed by Dominican enterprises is then exported to the United States.

During the 1990's, the Dominican Republic was considered as one of the first traders of pigeon peas worldwide. In 1995, the Dominicans exported pigeon peas for about $13 million dollars.

Currently, Equator and Peru are the main competitors of the Dominican Republic on this market. Asian countries, African and Central American producers of pigeon peas are also among them but export only very low quantities on an irregular basis.

Bellande suggests to the Haitian producers of congo peas to search for other markets in order to sell this product. In fact, he said, the trade with the Dominican Republic is not economically well suitable for the Haitian producers.

"There isn't anymore in Haiti congo peas preservation enterprises since the short experience of FACOLEF (Fruits and Vegetables Preservation Company) located in the Cavaillon's plateau, at the end of the 1970's'," recalled the Haitian-Dominican Relations Laboratory.

According to LAREHDO, this product is so important for the economy of the Haitian border areas that this study was required within this channel starting with the Haitian producer up to the Dominican brokers and consumers.

Pigeon pea or congo pea is a leguminous crop of popular consumption very well appreciated in the Dominican market after the beans, explains Alex Bellande. He believes that the Haitian government should put in place some structures in order to develop this sector. "Cultivating congo peas doesn't require a lot of seeds, and overseeing this sector will allow Haitian farmers to make a living from it," added the specialist.

The production's cost of congo peas, consisting essentially of a labor force and the purchase of seeds, can be estimated at $14.- US dollars per 100 lbs. In 2004, the average price of 45.5 kgs of pigeon peas pod was around $17.- US dollars.

The profit margin on this gross product is very low both for the Haitian producer and the different brokers.