Chemistry served as the initial bridge when Alejandro Reyes Limia first encountered formulas and laboratories. He never imagined he would eventually apply that analytical rigor to the furrows in Las Tunas fields.
Las Tunas, Cuba.- Today, recognized as the top graduate of the most recent class at the University of Las Tunas, this young agronomist speaks confidently about his profession, highlighting its continuous evolution and the fact that it demands as much from theory as it does from the soil itself.
"Agronomy is a whole universe, he explains, mechanization, irrigation and drainage, plant physiology... subjects that take on a different dimension in the field. Each involves practical application, which helped me feel a stronger connection to the degree." For him, daily interaction with farmers who possess deep empirical knowledge demonstrates the constant need for a professional capable of providing a scientific foundation for wisdom cultivated over generations.
That inclination toward research defined his time at the university from day one. He participated in student scientific conferences, national events, and an international gathering. His track record includes two specific publications: the first focused on the use of biofertilizers for corn, and his thesis, which centered on the population dynamics of Diaphania hyalinata, the melonworm moth —a pest that ravages essential crops such as cucumbers and pumpkins (members of the Cucurbitaceae family).
"I worked directly with producers, and the results are incredibly rewarding, leading to higher crop yields. That fills me with pride, both as a professional and as an individual," he comments about the impact of bringing science directly to the land.
However, this daily work takes place within an extremely complex economic landscape. "Clearly, the agricultural sector faces many shortcomings. Farming requires numerous inputs —machinery parts, essential chemicals, pest-control insecticides, and fertilizers— that are sometimes unavailable," he acknowledges candidly.
Faced with a scarcity of resources, the answer lies in ingenuity backed by the scientific method. At the Canan farm, a joint project involving professors and students resulted in the planting of eighty níspero (Manilkara huberi) trees for a silvopastoral system. The saplings —propagated using the air-layering technique— demonstrated that applying knowledge can mitigate the impact of material shortages.
"I consider my profession vital; it is one of the pillars of food sovereignty. Agriculture will always need professionals to advance science and technology," he asserts.
Today, Alejandro shares that same passion in the classrooms and experimental fields at the University of Las Tunas, where he teaches in the program. On this Agricultural Worker's Day, his daily work embodies the efforts of those who sustain food production in Cuba through knowledge and perseverance.
