The Elpidio Sosa Credit and Services Cooperative (CCS), of the community of Vázquez, in the municipality of Puerto Padre, is a clear example of how much it can be done to transform the management of productive units and, consequently, the economic income of the collective and the social improvements of the residents in the surroundings.
Las Tunas, Cuba.- Perhaps, that is why the members of the CCS again bet on the engineer Wilmer Espinosa Vargas, who a few days ago was mostly re-elected as its president, in the renewal and/or ratification assembly of the Board of Directors.
He does not rest in the search for solutions to problems but considers that the best ideas are born after discussing collective issues because the projections are designed among all. And most importantly, they also put them into practice together.
Continue working in pursuit of the economic and social development of the cooperative is the goal and toward that objective, the actions are implemented. Fortunately, in alliances with the projects for Local Agricultural Innovation (PIAL) and Support for Agricultural Intercooperation (APOCOOP), the delegation of the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Environment (CITMA) and the University of Las Tunas.
“The cooperative had a critical economic situation and we could not continue that way. The transformation has advanced little by little; we continue to consolidate initiatives to achieve better results and, thereby, the satisfaction of the community.”
“These changes are seen in the 53 hectares of collective use and in the 106 farms that make up the CCS, and are also appreciated in the trust when granting a bank loan, or when we are asked to support social works in the municipality.”
Several activities characterize today they work, besides the traditional tasks of promoting various crops and raising major and minor cattle, pigs, and poultry. One of them is the sowing of coffee -of the Robusta variety- with a chunky banana, to guarantee the shadow.
In these areas, Canavalia was also planted, a bean that brings nitrogen to the ground and, therefore, will favor the coffee development. When it is necessary, the fodder machines provided by APOCOOP will contribute to the elaboration of animal feed, both in seeds and green mass.
Another important line is the casabe, for which a burén was installed, with a capacity of 500 units every day, although up to a thousand can be manufactured, for its sale in the town of Vázquez and the supply to Gastronomy and Tourism facilities as well.
 Production of casabe, from cassava flour. |
According to Espinosa Vargas, the mini-industry of construction materials, whose productions -in association with the Stainless Steel Company (ACINOX Las Tunas)- are used to improve the infrastructure of the CCS and surrounding roads, among other works.
“We have many projections aimed at providing services to the associates and the community. We intend to make a classroom for farmers' training, boost production extensionism, build a juice sales point, and produce cassava flour to prepare food for celiac and hypertensive people, mainly.
“We are rescuing unusual fruits and some varieties of palm trees. We want to conclude the livestock module, with all species and the food base, and build a collection and benefit ship to consolidate the export of charcoal.”
Strengthening the economy, with an innovative mentality, and through the application of science, is the maximum aspiration of the associates, which takes advantage of the multiple local development opportunities to diversify productions and be more useful.
