A call to increase food production and raise the results of the current sugar harvest was made in Las Tunas by Cuban Vice President Salvador Valdés Mesa, who chaired a meeting to analyze the Municipal Self-Supply Program.
Las Tunas, Cuba.- The also member of the Political Bureau of the Cuban Communist Party (PCC) evaluated what has been done in the territory to guarantee the 30 pounds per capita of grains, viands, vegetables and fruits, as well as the five kilograms of animal protein that establishes the Food and Nutritional Sovereignty Plan.
So far this has not been achieved for a series of objective and subjective reasons, such as low crop yields due to lack of fertilizers and fuels, drought, diversion of products, lack of motivation and other causes; however, in December an average of 24.8 pounds per inhabitant was sold.
In the meeting with the secretaries of the PCC of the municipalities of Las Tunas, the presidents of the Municipal Assemblies of the People's Power, the mayors and those responsible for agricultural activity, Valdés Mesa reflected on what food independence represents in the face of the resurgence of the blockade and in middle of the crisis generated by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.
For this reason, he noted, each territory must design its development strategy and guarantee food for the population, not only that of the residents in the surroundings but also contribute to the province and the country; since several lines are distributed according to the national balance, such as rice, beans and meat.
He insisted that progress should be made in the processing of various assortments through industries and mini-industries, including artisanal ones, and rustic houses for the production of vegetables should be promoted during the months of July, August and September.
In addition, he stressed that, in this complex scenario, the control and planning of all the processes of various crops and livestock are decisive, as well as the links with scientific activity to defy difficulties and climatic adversities.
Yoel Martínez Vargas, delegate of the Ministry of Agriculture in the province, presented the results of the agricultural sector until the end of December and the projections for 2021 when it is intended to increase the planted areas with cassava, plantain, sweet potato and other crops.
Rafael Pantaleón Quevedo, general director of the Sugar Company, reported that the territory presents delays in the current harvest due to the late start of the three sugar mills, the humidity in the fields and the cane left to grind, in addition to some subjective problems as indiscipline and lack of organization.
About this issue, the Cuban vice president highlighted the need to comply with the sugar production plan - the highest in the country - and in that sense called for attention to sugarcane agriculture to solve current deficiencies, while urging to prevent stoppages in sugar mills, where stability has already been achieved.
Valdés Mesa was accompanied by the first secretary of the PCC in Las Tunas, Manuel Pérez Gallego, the first deputy minister of Agriculture, Ydael Pérez Brito, and the Governor Jaime Chiang Vega.
