HAVANA, Feb 22 (NNN-ACN) — Through the transformation of agrifood systems in 10 municipalities in western Cuba, a new project of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) aims to help increase food production with a focus on sustainability in fishing, forestry and agricultural practices.
With funding of 9.3 million dollars and a five-year duration, some 7,000 hectares of agricultural land and 600 hectares of forests will be restored, FAO, in charge of the initiative along with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Center for Research on Protein Plants and Bionatural Products (CIPB), reported on its web site.
“Blue and green development in Cuba’s food and urban sectors” is the name of the project, which has a circular economy approach and will implement financial incentives in the public and private sectors.
According to the report, it is expected to achieve sustainable productive growth in food production at the local level without compromising existing natural resources, which will improve the capacity to face the impacts of climate change.
It is also estimated that greenhouse gas (CO2) emissions will be reduced by 1,231,676 tons.
FAO emphasizes that this project, part of the Global Integrated Blue and Green Islands Program, will benefit some 18,694 people, more than half of whom are women.
Manuel Sobrino, president of the CIPB, highlighted during the kick-off workshop the importance of the initiative for local development, by promoting the sustainability of local food systems and strengthening the environmental component for the benefit of nature and society.
The information highlights that the project in Cuba will be an essential pillar in the national efforts for the transition towards a sovereign, sustainable and resilient productive matrix, guaranteeing the protection and management of productive ecosystems.
SANTA CLARA: With a plan of around 26,500 metric tons (t) of sugar, the Héctor Rodríguez Agroindustrial Sugar Company of the municipality of Sagua la Grande in Villa Clara is prioritizing the production for the family basket of goods in the central region.
According to a press release published by the provincial radio station CMHW, to achieve this, the mill will have to grind more than 341,300 tons of sugar cane during 105 days, which is equivalent to an average of 250 tons of raw sugar per day.
For that purpose, the Encrucijada (Perucho Figueredo and Abel Santamaría), Quemado de Güines (Panchito Gómez Toro) and Corralillo (Quintín Bandera) mills will provide support to the sugar mill located in the Sitiecito community, since the securing of raw material is essential not only to maintain the manufacturing rhythms, but also to meet the initially proposed goal, the press release said.
The more than 26,000 tons planned for the Héctor Rodríguez plant are a great challenge in the current context, especially if we take into account the shortages faced by the Cuban industrial system as a result of the negative impact of the economic blockade imposed by the United States on the island.
In this sense, the press confirmed, the required efficiency values in the extraction of sucrose have not been achieved, since there is currently no qualified labor for such purposes.
Nevertheless, maintaining the milling means providing a greater contribution to the National Electric Power System, particularly during peak consumption hours, which will contribute to alleviate the deficit of electricity generation that continues to directly affect the social and economic life of the archipelago.
Founded in 1918 under the name of Santa Teresa, the current Héctor Rodríguez de Sitiecito Agroindustrial Sugar Company is key in the manufacture of sugar in Villa Clara, although during the last campaigns the flattering productive levels of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century have not been reached. — NNN-ACN
