C U B A

Havana.  February 4, 2014

Figures announced mid-2013 by the Tropical Fruit Cultivation Research Institute indicated that the total acreage devoted to non-citrus fruit cultivation on the island is 88,367 hectares, with the greatest portion, 30%, devoted to mango groves. With the inclusion of citrus, the total reaches 109,367 hectares.

Results are, however, not yet encouraging. According to the National Statistics and Data Office, from January through September, 2013, the volume of agricultural production (without including sugar cane) declined by 2.6%, and among the products which showed significant declines were citrus and other fruit, with the exception of guava and pineapple.

In its efforts to rebuild the fruit industry – at its height some 30 years ago – the country has as assets an ideal climate, a system of research facilities, and a broad layer of small farmers and cooperatives who provide the greatest percentages of agricultural production in the country.

Within this broad group of farmers, gaining momentum is the Movement of Fruit Cooperatives which has united some 102 agricultural cooperatives specializing in fruit production across the country, recognized for their productivity, the quality of their fruit and the implementation of best practices, such as the use of bio-fertilizers and intercropping.

According to information provided by the national fruit company, some 31,000 hectares are being managed by cooperatives involved in this movement, with the cultivation of mango predominating (11,500 ha); followed by avocado (6,000); guava (4,500); papaya (2,700); pineapple (2,400); zapote (600) and among other species, 3,300 hectares.

"The movement has experienced big changes these last few years and delivery of supplies and resources has been improving. This has allowed us to make projections and, next year, we intend to reach 200 hectares of fruit trees and will also identify new species," said Luis Gerardo Pérez Gutiérrez, during an interview with Granma International. He is president of the Nelson Fernández Cooperative in the municipality of Madruga, Mayabeque province.

As a result of the reorganization of the sugar industry in 2002, in an effort to improve management and productivity, the Nelson Fernández Cooperative was released from several contracts, and took up the cultivation of tubers, vegetables, fruit and other food crops on 62% of the land it had previously devoted to sugarcane. The cooperative, one among some 5,200 which exist in the country, was included in what is called the Álvaro Reynoso Task, being undertaken by leaders in fruit production.

"Given the distance between our entity and the sugar mill," Pérez explained, "we decided we wouldn’t plant any more cane and would concentrate on varied crops."

"When Decree-Law 259 was implemented – and later no.300, related to the granting of land in usufruct – our cooperative grew. We had only 13 caballerías and now we have 67, adding area granted to 93 individuals in usufruct, which means that our land increased seven times over."

Currently the Nelson Fernández, a credit and services cooperative (CCS), devotes more than 140 hectares to fruit, successfully cultivating 38 to 40 species, with good yields.

"We have considerably increased citrus fruit, a crop facing big infestation problems in Cuba. We have already harvested 100 tons of Persian limes this year," Pérez continued.

Although fruit production is the cooperative’s principal mission, the Nelson Fernández CCS also produces significant amounts of milk, meat, tubers and vegetables. Their corn and bean harvests are important to reducing imports of these much-in-demand foods.

"As we have continued clearing land of marabou and undergrowth, we want to continue growing, expanding the fruit orchards, which is our social objective, and install a new type of mini processing plant during 2014, looking to complete the production cycle."

"We have achieved this much as a result of everyone’s efforts. I represent 167 small farmers, who with their effort and daily work are responsible for all of our accomplishments."

Although such encouraging examples exist, the organizational work of the movement is far from complete. Obstacles which are hampering the accomplishment of its goals must be overcome, to recover the country’s fruit growing tradition.

Implementing best practices; treatment of residual waste from mini processing plants; contracting cooperatives’ production to meet demand; and guaranteeing the delivery of supplies needed to maintain groves and nurseries are all part of the strategy to be followed, to ensure the stable development of Cuba’s fruit industry.