The commercialization of more than 5 470 tons of viands, vegetables, grains and fruit trees, in the month of November, representing 27.8 pounds per capita, brings the province of Ciego de Ávila closer to the objective of guaranteeing the delivery of 30 lbs of agricultural products per capita in that interval.

Orlando Pérez Pedreira, provincial delegate of the Ministry of Agriculture, emphasized that the municipalities of Chambas and Venezuela reached the country's goal, another six remained above 29 pounds, while Primero de Enero did not exceed 28.4 and Ciego de Ávila ( 24.5) was below the average for the territory.

He stressed that the deficit of inputs (fertilizers, herbicides and fungicides) has a negative impact on the yields of crops such as bananas: the harvests in La Cuba Agricultural Company, the largest producer of this food in the country, were reduced from 80 to 25 or 30 tons per hectare.

At present, only potato, tobacco and rice productions have a minimum assurance, before which the use of agro-ecological practices is promoted, including the promotion of the production of biological means (entomopathogens and entomophages) for the phytosanitary treatment of the remaining crops, he explained.

Despite the complexities, the Food Sovereignty and Nutrition Education Plan requests to strengthen local food systems through the progressive increase of the areas where food is grown, which will favor self-sufficiency and deliveries to the national balance, he said.

The construction of a dozen organoponics allowed the planting of vegetables to be extended up to 12.16 square meters (m2) per inhabitants, a figure higher than the commitment; meanwhile, the achievement of planned yields contributed to overcompliance with the production plan, he clarified.

Pérez Pedreira explained that, in the case of protein products, the province achieved 1.5 kg per inhabitant (of the five planned one), with lower levels in Chambas, Ciro Redondo and Majagua, while Ciego de Ávila and Morón presented a more favorable situation, with 2.43 and 1.74, respectively, also far from the purpose. He particularized in the difficulties with pig production, due to the deficit of animal feed, before which strategies are adopted such as contracting crop and food waste, and planting viands, pastures and protein plants, a part of the latter destined to the manufacture of liquid feed.

The introduction of more than 8,000 animals to feedlots, the recovery of sheds for breeding and the strengthening of ties with private producers are added in order to extend the use of alternative technologies in the face of the lack of feed.

Likewise, links with the University and scientific centers are strengthened to apply methods that help to promote the breeding of other animals (birds and large and small livestock), of interest to expand the production of eggs, milk, and fresh and processed meats.