The news about the presence of the Antonio Guiteras sugar mill in the upcoming harvest has been the subject of much discussion. Opinions range from acceptance to rejection by those who believe that “Majibacoa” was the key figure that Las Tunas should have placed in such a high position of responsibility.

Las Tunas, Cuba.- “A technically better-equipped mill, easier to repair, a competent workforce, and a productive career recognized by the country” are among the arguments put forward in favor of the youngest of the Las Tunas mills.

And yes, that's all well and good. But when I asked Eddy Felipe, Azcuba's representative in the province, about the reason behind the preference for the colossus in the municipality of Puerto Padre, his answer was clear and categorical: “The limited availability of cane to be harvested in the areas supplying the Majibacoa mill.”

According to estimates, there are 130,000 tons (t) of cane declared fit for processing, an amount that at a rate of 4,550 per day—70 percent of the mill's potential capacity—would only be enough for 24 days of operations.

Let's be realistic. Assuming all the complexity involved in a harvest, from preparation to the start-up of the large agro-industrial chain that makes it up, it is not feasible to mobilize all that equipment, with the high cost it entails, to work for a few days and produce a little sugar. Much less if that means linking the more than 500,000 t of cane contemplated by the Antonio Guiteras sugar company. Given this reality, I think the provincial leadership did the right thing.

And keep in mind that with the next harvest, there will be two harvests in which the Majibacoa, instead of sugar, will produce molasses, a highly demanded and well-priced product that, under current conditions, is very healthy for the economy of that sugar company.

The “Colombians” are well aware of this. For the same reason, and despite having an industry that is possibly in better technical condition than Majibacoa, they have had four consecutive harvests based on molasses, when electricity has allowed it.

But if we are talking about the decline in sugarcane production and a totally obsolete industry, then the most critical and worrying case in Las Tunas is that of the Amancio Rodríguez mill, which has been completely inactive for several years and, from what can be seen on the ground, this situation could continue for who knows how much longer.

Therefore, based on these experiences and without losing sight of the devastating impact of the blockade, combined with drought, abandoned cane fields, and subjective difficulties, I believe that none of the tasks currently facing the sector here—except for repairs—compete in priority with the planting of cane.

Campaigns and years of unfulfilled plans, whether due to insufficient attention to the plantations and, why not, to the workforce, have contributed to the progressive deterioration of the sweet stalk, with emphasis on the southern part of the sugarcane region.

Nor has planting progressed very well so far in the second half of the year, as the program is running behind schedule, to a greater or lesser extent, in all these companies.

It would be a mirage to think of great results in the midst of circumstances aggravated by the blockade, but the situation could be different if greater effort were made, both inside and outside the sugar sector.

I remember the days when the Sugar Union organized competitions on weekends, even among cattle herders, when demonstrations in support of planting were frequent, when the political and administrative leadership of the municipality demanded specific figures from the agencies on areas to be addressed, when the Union of Young Communists (UJC in Spanish) took on the challenge as a task of shock...

I recognize that the current circumstances are nothing like those of that time, but I cherish the hope that something could be done to rescue what can be salvaged from that enthusiastic and combative movement to promote sugarcane agriculture, especially the planting and cleaning of plantations.

If anything remains to be said, I leave you with the following question to think about, meditate on, and act upon: what is the point of mills and derivative plants if their raison d'être —sugarcane— is in crisis? Such is the dilemma.