In the community of Villanueva, in the municipality of Las Tunas, the board of directors of the José Santiago Ercilla agricultural production cooperative (CPA, in Spanish) is aware of the importance of the entity in feeding those who live in the surrounding area.
Las Tunas, Cuba.- That is why they have sought collateral productions, which have a double function, to feed the population and nourish the cooperative's economy, according to its president, Manuel Concepción Morales. The Villa Real mini-industry is one of the best examples.
Through its boilers and containers have passed various fruits and vegetables that later - converted into desserts or preserves - reach the table of the neighbors. Some time ago, to diversify production, they turned to sugar cane and the popular acceptance was overwhelming.
This was explained by the head of the unit, Juan Carlos Carmona Utra, who added that the intense and prolonged drought affected the planting of pump fruit and other crops, so they decided to produce two very coveted items, guarapo (sugarcane juice), and molasses.
"In the areas of the CPA, there was some sugarcane and we planted more to make production sustainable because the interest of the population was instantaneous. Even though we have presented technical problems with the equipment and among all of us we looked for solutions so as not to delay.
"Every day we make between 200 and 300 bottles of molasses and about 400 liters of guarapo that we sell at the point of sale and the school. We take it there so that the children do not walk on the road and consume as much as they want."
The six workers of the mini-industry earn 50 percent of what they produce and that is why they always find solutions. Their purpose is to maintain the productive indicators of quality and quantity, a great challenge they face with optimism.
"The land in Villanueva is bad for coconut trees, but we want to buy in other productive units and also plant a larger area of a fruit bomb. The idea is to keep some of this molasses to later make coconut paste, nougat, and other sweets."
In addition to the work of the small collective, the CPA is dedicated to cattle raising and this year they plan to collect around 100,000 liters of milk, as reported by Concepción Morales, who added that they use the waste from the mini-industry to feed the cattle.
He added that the board of directors decides to protect the mass against hunger, thirst, theft, and slaughter. He also said that criminal acts do not occur frequently because each day they carry out a count and at night they activate the peasant vigilance patrols.
