• Submitted by: admin
• Local
• Environment
• Pinar del Río
• Society
• Business and Economy
• 04 / 29 / 2009

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The current tobacco leaf harvest in this western Cuban province reports higher quality and yield than last year thanks to the efforts of local producers, who saw their sector severely damaged by hurricanes Gustav and Ike in 2008.

The natural phenomena devastated the infrastructure of the main economic sector in the Pinar del Rio locality of Vueltabajo, so famous for its tobacco leaves. Workers from 10 Cuban provinces joined the rehabilitation of the ravaged sector to guarantee the recovery of leaf curing houses for the current harvest.

Tobacco grower Ernesto Padilla said that the good weather prevailing in the territory also contributed to the success of the current harvest and he added that thanks to those conditions there is a large number of wrapper leaves almost ready for export.

The territory of Pinar del Rio contributes nearly half of all tobacco wrapper leaves for Habano cigars, highly demanded at the world market. Some of the renowned tobacco-producing areas with higher production during the current harvest include San Juan y Martinez, San Luis and Sandino

Source: Juventud Rebelde