Mango tree plantings barely flourish and already generate tensions. The Morón agricultural producer Pedro Ángel Lau Rodríguez, affiliated with Credit and Service Cooperatives (CCS by its Spanish initials) Ignacio Agramonte and head of the point of sale with his own name, carries out analyzes that give us the phrase “That is unacceptable”.

“In the province of Ciego de Ávila, the capped price of class mango is 7.00 pesos per pound. We consider that it is excessive because one of these fruits can weigh up to seven pounds, therefore, when we weigh it and it has a value greater than 40.00 pesos, problems and dissatisfaction among customers will be generated", the producer emphasizes.

These and other similar concerns, shared by his work team, were transferred to the local authorities, in order to be analyzed.

Hundreds of people from all over the City of Gallo and the peripheral communities go daily to the CCS Ignacio Agramonte point of sale, located on the highway to the town Patria, an establishment that makes a difference in the territory by achieving quality of service, a condition supported by the stability and variety in the offers, the friendly and respectful treatment, adjusted prices (even below the limits), an appropriate commercial image and in constant renewal, as well as strict compliance with hygienic-epidemiological measures.

“We buy the products from our affiliates and from people who cultivate in backyards and plots and agree to sell us. We constantly manage the products to maintain the variety of offers that distinguishes us, ”he says.

Without eulogy or praise, this small market may represent an approach to the competitive company that provides for the updating of the Cuban economic model. Commercial initiatives such as the reduction of a percentage of the price to Public Health workers and the approach of products to people who remain in isolation or quarantine, distinguish the management of this group, consistent with the complexities of current times.

“We try not to incur abusive or speculative prices. In the province there is a list that governs the buying and selling processes, from which we establish our marketing mechanisms, always trying to establish a balance between efficiency, service quality and customer satisfaction.

“Sometimes, we take advantage of the facilities offered by the regulations related to prices, which make it possible to increase up to 20% when selling the processed and packaged products. These strategies, although they represent an additional cost, have been accepted by customers. It is also favorable for us as it allows us a commercial margin”, Lau Rodríguez highlights.

From his position as a farmer, he recognizes that increasing prices is not the appropriate way to achieve efficiency, "we have to try to increase the producers so that there are more offers, then prices will inevitably decrease."

Although he considers that the costs of agricultural products could be lower, he also values ​​the impossibility of commercializing them at lower costs because that would have a negative impact on the productive sector, by reducing profits and discouraging farmers, who also face higher amounts to acquire inputs, fertilizers and fuels.

“There has to be a correlation, taking into account these issues, because the salary of our workers cannot be the same as before. The peasants have to be the main beneficiaries to stimulate productivity, as the Minister of Economy and Planning stated.

“However, the country, the province and the municipality must plan to reduce food prices, for which ―I insist― it is urgent to increase production, a matter that requires a closer approach to our sector to know what are the difficulties we face, what supplies are we missing… and try to help us in every possible way.

“We have very good leaders in Agriculture and in the National Association of Small Farmers (ANAP by its Spanish initials), who are focused on these issues and we know that with their help we will move forward to achieve food sovereignty, which we know is a priority for the Cuban State”, the Morón's peasant stressed.