Agriculture among the sectors most
affected by U.S. blockade
Arianna Ceballos
Cuban agriculture continues to be one of the sectors
most affected by the economic, commercial and
financial blockade imposed by the U.S. on the
country since the 1960´s. Officials from the
Ministry of Agriculture (Minag) reported losses of
307,367,200 dollars, from May 2013 through Mayo
2014.
Among the principal limitations associated with the
blockade is locating markets - some distant - to
import supplies for the agricultural industry, which
increases costs and results in additional freight
expenses. Also problematic is not being able to use
the U.S. dollar in financial transactions.
The blockade most severely affects the tobacco
industry. Industry Group Tabacuba reported damages
of more than 150 million dollars during the period
May 2013 through Mayo 2014.
Jorge Luis Fernández Maique, commercial vice
president of Habanos S.A. Corporation, stated
during a press conference that, the principal impact
is that Cuba does not have access to the U.S. market
which, from 1949 through 1959, was the island’s most
important importer of cigars, a situation which
could continue if it weren’t for the hostile
blockade policy.
Fernández emphasized that if the blockade were
lifted, Habanos S.A. could sell almost 150 million
units of premium tobacco to the U.S. market, which
would result in revenue of 300-400 million dollars.
During the press conference he also emphasized the
impact of the blockade on certain agricultural
entities such as Porcino; the Agro-Industrial Grains
Group; Labiofam and the National Poultry Union,
which has been denied access to breeding technology
produced in the U.S. and other countries which use
U.S. components or patents.
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