Havana determined to boost food supply

[Thinking Man's Idiot]

Havana determined to boost food supply

(Friday 19 September 2008)

Cuba, which spends up to $2 billion (£1.1bn) annually on food imports, was already struggling to increase its domestic production when the twin storms destroyed large amounts of staples such as rice, beans, plantains and sweet potatoes.


Agriculture vice-minister Alcides Lopez reported that the country is preparing for a six-month food crisis.


Mr Lopez said: "We need to see what food is available and where it needs to go," adding:"We have six hard months to go, but no Cuban will die of hunger."

Thousands of acres of crops were destroyed earlier this month when the twin storms struck the island with heavy rains and high winds.

The egg and dairy industries were also hit hard, with a production loss of 70 million eggs and three million litres of milk in recent weeks.

Mr Lopez said that authorities are rushing to recover as much of the damaged crops as possible and to repair salvageable farm equipment.

Priority is being placed on short-term crops such as salad greens and on restoring electrical power to food processing plants, Mr Lopez explained.
The vice-minister said that he may impose price caps on farmers markets, where small producers have long sold their products at market prices.

And he praised a new programme to grant additional unused state lands to small farmers in an effort to boost domestic food production.
More than 5,000 people across the island applied to the programme when it was launched on Thursday.

Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque also reaffirmed on Thursday that the US blockade is the biggest obstacle to Cuba's recovery.

Mr Perez Roque noted that the recovery would be dramatically accelerated if sanctions are eased, even for just six months.

The trade embargo prevents Cuba from buying most construction and other supplies directly from the United States and prevents the island from purchasing any US goods on credit.

"The economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed during 50 years by the United States is the main obstacle to Cuba's development," Mr Perez Roque declared, complaining of an "irrational persecution against north American companies, banks and citizens and those of third countries" who do business with Cuba.

Ike and Gustav caused $5 billion (£2.7bn) worth of damage to Cuba this month.