Major challenges for agriculture in Holguín
- Written by Ania Fernández Torres
- Published in Holguin
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The Delegation of the Ministry of Agriculture in Holguín has among its main challenges the introduction of new varieties of basic seeds of banana, corn, rice and beans recommended by the different research centers of the country, while working in the recovery of the Biofactory, with a delivery capacity of more than one million vitroplants per year.
The agricultural sector plans to reach in 2023 the 30 pounds of viands, vegetables and grains per capita that were planned for 2025, for which it is necessary to put under irrigation the 15,848.1 hectares with no use value in the productive areas of Limoncito, Beola, Santa Clara-Tres Palmas-Arroyo Seco, La Yuraguana and those associated with the East-West water transfer and the Sagua River, in the municipalities of Sagua de Tánamo and Frank País.
It is also important to evaluate the productive potentialities in the municipality of Antilla and other neighboring territories, according to the future demands of the El Ramón tourist pole, which by 2030 will exceed 4 thousand tons of products per year, for which strategies are required at short and medium term.
In the agricultural area of Limoncito, some 410.7 hectares of banana, cassava, sweet potato, corn, squash and fruit trees are already planted.
The sowing strategy of these crops in the province is staggered with the objective of reaching the 13,900 hectares planned until the end of December 2020, as part of the Municipal Self-Supply Program, which aims to achieve food sovereignty, sustainability and change of consumption patterns.
However, even when it seeks to change consumption standards, rice continues to be one of the vital lines and increasing its national production to avoid expensive imports is the central axis of the rice program, as well as the grain processing.
Currently, the MINAG and the “Héroes del 26 de Julio” Company work jointly in the manufacturing of special equipment intended to boost both programs, including the conveyor TPA 7000 designed to transport rice and the Mini Rice Harvester for harvesting in small areas, among others.
The Agricultural Machinery Development Center (CEDEMA) is also working in the manufacturing of other equipment such as a soil leveler with a Laser system, an In-Line Fertilizer Planter and an Inorganic Fertilizer Spreader, still the design phase, which could replace aviation in planting.
During a recent tour of the agricultural areas of Holguín, Salvador Valdés Mesa, member of the Political Bureau and first Vice President of the Councils of State and Ministers of Cuba, said that: “No investment related to food production will stop. We will overcome this economic situation and we will continue to advance”.