WFP awards agri-food initiatives of women in Holguín

Photo: Juan Pablo Carreras

Five initiatives led by women from Holguín are among the six winners nationwide in the World Food Programme's (WFP) call for proposals in Cuba, through the Nutrivida project, which funds ventures to strengthen local food systems.

The proposals, announced this Friday during the celebration of International Day of Rural Women, held annually in the province, promote women's empowerment and local development, explained María Eugenia Escobar Pérez, the project coordinator in the provincial capital.

Aimed at women and young people in the territories linked to the program, which seeks to support food security and nutrition for pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and children up to 12 years old, the call for proposals aims to promote sustainable community initiatives, Escobar Pérez added.

Mayarí, Moa, and Holguín, in the eastern region; as well as Santa Cruz del Norte, Bejucal, and San José de las Lajas, in Mayabeque, are the participating municipalities. Applications from these municipalities were evaluated based on their social impact, technical and financial feasibility, contribution to social protection networks, gender focus, and youth participation.

Escobar Pérez specified that the six winning proposals will receive technical support in budget preparation, feedback on their plans, and the signing of financing agreements for approximately $15,000.

Mariam Pupo Rodríguez, a member of the Pepito Tey Credit and Services Cooperative (CCS), told the Cuban News Agency (ACN) that her project aims to provide employment opportunities for women who are unemployed or have difficulty accessing work, by creating a small-scale processing plant for fruits, vegetables, and dairy products, utilizing locally grown crops.

The funds will allow the cooperative to acquire the machinery needed for the production processes, which will help prepare food for children, pregnant women, and senior citizens in the community, reduce crop waste, and increase the cooperative's income.

Lisandra Jiménez Cortina, a member of the Agricultural Production Cooperative (CCS) in Mayarí, explained that she is participating in the program with a poultry unit dedicated to producing eggs and chicken meat. This unit combines renewable energy and locally produced feed, driven by her family's connection to agriculture.

Obtaining this support represents an opportunity for empowerment and improved nutrition for vulnerable groups by generating greater access to healthy food, Jiménez Cortina stated.

Nutrivida is sponsored by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), financed by the Government of Canada, and supported in Cuba by the Ministries of Public Health, Agriculture, and Education, as well as the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources. (Source: ACN)