Despite the limitations of inputs such as fertilizers and pesticides, the diesel deficit, the current difficult economic scenario and the impact of illegalities, the National Association of Small Farmers (ANAP) in Ciego de Ávila generates more than 70 percent of the food for the population of the province.

Even in the production of coffee, tobacco and viands, the digit increases by 10 percent. At the same time, compared to this date of the previous year, the cooperative sector grows in all agri-food lines, only with the exception of pigs, in which they seek a recovery after changing the contracting system and opting for Creole dark coat pig farming.

“In approximately 400,000 liters the amount of milk increased” from one year to the next, pointed out Wilfredo Martínez López, a member of the ANAP Bureau, who attends the agri-food sphere in Ciego de Ávila, to validate the advances from one year to another, and as part of the assessments that transpired during the provincial act for the 61st anniversary of the peasant organization, held in Morón.

However, the exposed numbers do not always satisfy the expectations or the possibilities of the Ciego de Ávila`s citizens. “The figures are not so high due to the complexities we are going through, but we are growing in areas to multiply yields and put more food in everyone's hands. The implementation of the new 63 measures will allow progress in food production and give farmers the alternative of exporting and buying everything from spare parts to machinery," Martínez López said.

"It is up to us to raise yields with efficiency and sustainability, make the most of the land fund, apply scientific-technical advances, always with the aim of lowering prices," Frank Güemes Alonso, president of ANAP in the province, alleged in its central words.

At a political and ideological level, he stressed the duty to "continue deepening the internal functioning, grow in the number of associates, strengthen the work with the Union of Young Communists, with peasant women and end corruption, becoming faithful guardians of the rights of our people."

He stated that there were more than enough reasons to celebrate May 17 in the Morón municipality, "a land of rich traditions, with ten ANAP grassroots organizations and an industrious peasantry."

The northern territory stood out greatly in the last twelve months for presenting a greater number of associates and for the strong impact in the confrontation with COVID-19: contributions to hospitals and isolation centers.

Directly, the CPA Enrique Varona deserved the status of headquarters for going from being a cooperative with millions of losses, a decade ago, to being among the first in the projections of the sugarcane sector in Ciego de Ávila.

The meeting, which commemorated the 63rd anniversary of the promulgation of the Agrarian Reform Law and the 76th anniversary of the assassination of the leader Niceto Pérez, served to recognize the work of the peasants with a long and satisfactory career in the ANAP and also as an encouragement for the that in the present obtain highly competent results and startle any obstacle.

Among those who obtained national avant-garde merit was Eliecer Arsenio López Trujillo, from the CCS Lino Álvarez, from the municipality of Primero de Enero, who began working the land twenty-five years ago and today owns an agro-ecological fruit farm that holds the title of Double Excellence in the urban and suburban categories.

The scarcity of resources hits the peasantry in general, but the impact is less for López Trujillo, because he does not work with chemical fertilizers. Agro-ecology is also a caveat now and this farmer demonstrates it: “I cannot say that the results are the same as with chemical products; however, I delivered six tons of avocado last year, I delivered corn, cassava, sweet potatoes... I use polyculture, and on my 2.17-hectare farm, I have had productions of ten tons, which means that it is a well-exploited land. Let's add that organic products are healthy and doubly important for children, pregnant women, the elderly…”

Precisely, Güemes Alonso ended his speech with the invitation that the achievements "multiply, so as not to disappoint the Revolution or the confidence that it gives to the little giants."