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Rolando runs a poultry farm in the municipality of Jesús Menendez in the eastern Cuban province of Las Tunas. In an interview with local journalists, he spoke about his previous life as a chess player, about his new job and about the satisfaction he feels in having made that life choice.

"Do I miss chess?... Just imagine! I quit chess two years ago, a game I've been playing since I was a 5 year older. I became National Grand Master in 2003 and was a local chess overseer for over a decade." Rolando said.

Rolando was asked why he took the radical decision of trading chess for poultry farming, a question the former GM answered resolutely: A sense of the historic moment we are living in.

With the utmost patience that characterizes chess players, Rolando explained why he chose poultry farming over chess. He said that through his new job, he was able to contribute to boost food production, and to make the most of his youthful years so as to secure his economic stability following his retirement.

"Many people think the change was a bit too radical; and it is. But actually, I have a background in bird breeding, because my family has always liked domesticating fowl. My house was too small to run the business. So I asked my uncle Eulicer Loras to join me as my partner and to let me use his land for poultry farming." continued Loras.

"We've been working for nearly 11 months now contributing large-scale outputs in terms of meat and eggs. This was possible in large part due to the support of the local José Manuel Rodríguez Credit and Services Cooperative, of which we became members.

"Last year we were able to deliver more than 10,000 eggs; and we sold more than 200 chickens at provincial agricultural fairs. Plans for the immediate future include commercializing 3,000 eggs on a monthly basis; as well as 2,000 kg of meat every 2 months," Lora assured.

Later on, Rolando spoke about plans in the near future to increase the numbers of breeding fowl in order to boost reproduction and distribution of young animals to state entities and individual farmers.

Happy with his new life style, Rolando gave details about the characteristics of his work, and about how he uses experience and wit to pull through difficult situations. Faced with medication and resource shortages, for instance, Rolando wisely uses natural remedies and herbs such as aloe vera and noni as a source of medicine.

In a spirit of great confidence, former chess player Rolando Pérez Loras continues working hard at La Aurora farm. He is committed to increasing eggs and meat outputs and to enhancing the local food sector; in the hope of diversifying production by also taking on pig farming.