• Submitted by: manso
• Business and Economy
• 08 / 04 / 2010

---

HAVANA (Reuters) – Cuba's food production fell 7.5 percent in the first half of the year despite reforms instituted by President Raul Castro and even as the country cut food imports, the government reported this week.

The report was not a surprise to Cuban consumers who have complained of shortages all year, particularly in staples such as rice and beans, which were down 1.7 percent and 27 percent, respectively.

The National Statistics Office reported on its web page www.one.cu that, from January through June, there was a decline in just about all types of food production -- from rice, potatoes, malanga and other vegetables to pork and eggs.

Production of a few items rose, including yucca, milk, non-citrus fruits and bananas.

The government has repeatedly said it would begin cutting food imports this year, though no data was available. Vietnam, the island's main rice supplier, announced when the year began that Cuba had reduced orders by 100,000 tons for 2010.

Overall agriculture production is below 2005 levels, according to the government, even though President Raul Castro has made increasing food output a priority since taking over for older brother Fidel Castro more than two years ago.

Cuba is in the throes of a financial crisis in part because it spends heavily to import two-thirds of its food.

By Marc Frank Marc Frank   

Source: news.yahoo.com