The Cuban Minister of Agriculture, Gustavo Rodríguez, stressed Tuesday that the first measure in the current recovery stage in the post-pandemic is to increase planting, production, stockpiling and marketing of food products.
At the Round Table television program, the Minister added the increase in exports and industrial processing of agricultural products.

Rodríguez pointed out, among other objectives, the improvement of harvesting, which depends first of all on planting and producing food, and achieving efficient contracts as an antidote to commercial indiscipline and crimes.

The minister referred to the provision of food to vulnerable people living in remote communities, for which the agency has provided them with equipment and this service.

He explained the importance in terms of local self-sufficiency, of reaching the communities in those territories with marketing first.

The official insisted on the need of priority of exports, and gave an example of what has been done with foreign sales of tobacco and cigarettes, since they could not count on the 12 airlines where these items were previously transported to Europe. Refrigerated containers using shipping lines have been used, instead with rising shipping costs.

The export of charcoal is gradually being restored and it is planned to strengthen it for the future with sales of this item in smaller formats.

Likewise, when asked by customers, sales of honey and some vegetables are promoted abroad.

Likewise, industrial processing is maintained in this first post-Covid-19 stage, for mango and other fruits, both in large plants and in small mini-industries.

We have provided many supplies of processed foods to vulnerable people, Rodríguez said in this regard.

The official highlighted as another important task the delivery of idle lands to those who request them, a process in which greater agility is sought.

In this sense, he illustrated that they have received more than 5,700 requests for land in usufruct and there is a higher number of new requests.

He underlined the need to make the most of the land, the use of intercropping, the development of short-cycle crops and to promote urban, suburban and family agriculture.

He also highlighted the use of biofertilizers and organic fertilizers in the face of the lack of imported fertilizers due particularly to those derived from the intensification of the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States on Cuba and the economic crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Source: Prensa Latina