The agricultural sector in the province of Las Tunas offers important support to the production of drugs from medicinal plants, which are made in the five laboratories that exist in the territory.
Las Tunas, Cuba.- Francisco Villavicencio Mendoza, a specialist in various crops, who is in charge of the Medicinal Plants program, explained that in these times of limitations due to the intensification of the U.S. blockade, it is vital to provide the raw material for the elaboration of natural preparations that help to preserve the health of the people.
"In the eight municipalities, there are areas planted with different species and, as a whole, more than 35 thousand kilograms are delivered each year of plantain, passionflower, oregano, mint lemon balm, mint, and aloe, fundamentally. Some species are collected outside these farms because they grow wild as white paperbark, cobblers pegs, and sage.
"There are some varieties that do not exist in the territory and we need them, such as male pine and red mangrove. That is why we have working relationships with other provinces. The commitment is vital and we cannot lower our guard; we have to look for the species that are in demand and alleviate the situation that the country has."
A good example is a farm in the municipality of Las Tunas, located on the outskirts of El Cornito, with an area of 16 hectares. Nearly half of it has irrigation systems to maintain production, especially during the months of intense drought.
Some 21 species are grown there, according to Lester García Guzmán, a specialist of the entity, who added that they are working to satisfy the needs of the Natural and Traditional Medicine Laboratories (MNT) and the intention is to increase the total area to promote other crops.
"We are thinking of promoting moringa, lemon, guava, and emperor's candlesticks; and in those cases, as in the already established sowings, only organic fertilizers and biopesticides will be used so that the parts used from each plant are free of chemical substances."
Another good example is Los Cocos farm, in the municipality of Jesús Menéndez. There, renowned producer Eugenio Pérez Almaguer, who continues planting grains and fruit tree seedlings, is undertaking new projects related to medicinal plants.
"I am not going to neglect the other lines, but I understand the importance of planting these species and it is the way I have to contribute a little more to the health of the people. I have fallen in love with this task and I am going to continue it because it is really worth it.
"I started with some varieties and little by little others have been incorporated. I have a significant area of aloe and linden and I have already made deliveries to the municipality. You can count on me to promote this activity".
The Cuban Association of Agricultural and Forestry Technicians (ACTAF) also supports the Medicinal Plants Program; which today is a solution and not an option, given the lack and instability of traditional drugs caused by the world health crisis.
"We formed the technical group of medicinal plants, which aims to accompany the development of a group of phytogenetics resources that are necessary to enhance natural medicine - Yoandry Ávila Igarza, president of the ACTAF, points out - and we are accompanying the farm of this municipality.
"We still have to systematize a group of training actions to strengthen productive management and achieve higher quality during the harvests".
In Las Tunas, the consumption of antitussive, tonic, digestive, laxative, diuretic, antirheumatic, vermifuge, anti-inflammatory, and expectorant phytopharmaceuticals is significant, besides those prepared with bee honey and propolis.
Therefore, the sowing and harvesting of different species guarantee the production in laboratories of a wide range of syrups, creams, tinctures, and lotions, which cure or alleviate the symptoms of numerous diseases.
