Import Export in Haiti
American Rice in Haiti: Once upon a time Haiti was self-sufficient in producing rice
Virtually 90 percent of the rice sold in Haiti is American Rice. Whether is says diri Mega, diri Bongu or diri Tchako, it's all American rice. Once upon a time Haiti was self-sufficient in producing rice.
Growing up in Haiti I used to eat diri pilon, diri chode, all Haitian rice grown on the country side.
I remember going to the countryside at my auntie's house she they would hand us kids a quantity of rice with the husk where would put it in a "pilon" and mash the living daylight out of it to remove the kernel (pay diri a) but the rice bran (the outer layer of the rice kernel) and the germ would would remain, all nutritious, all good for you.
Do you know why rice is sole white and why the bran was removed? Read the related article below.