• Submitted by: manso
• Business and Economy
• 06 / 16 / 2011

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2011.06.14 - 18:26:01 / radiorebelde.icrt.cu. New Cuban Coffee Variety Undergoing Field Test (Photo: CMHW) Santa Clara, Cuba.- About a hundred young plants of an Arabica coffee hybrid obtained in Cuba are being grown in areas of the Coffee Research Experimental Station, in Villa Clara as part of an experimental project.

With the planting of the seedlings on the open air the first productive stage of the variety developed in the country started, after two decades of research as part of the Ministry of Agriculture’s efforts to stop the low coffee productions in the country.

Within this stage, another 4,000 seedlings will be planted by the end of July to then start its economic exploitation.

One of the specialists in charge of the project, Jose Angel Lacerra Espino, told ACN that during this period, the variety’s resistance to diseases and productive yield will be evaluated to determine its adaptability to the natural conditions.

The new variety registered by the Cuban Industrial Property Office was obtained by crossing the Caturra, Villalobos and Catuai varieties, together with botanic materials of the "Salvaje de Etiopía" which is considered as the crop’s genetic pattern, Lacerra Espino explained.

Researchers participating in the project said the hybrid requires specific humidity and temperature conditions for good development, in addition to lots of fertilizing and nutrients.

Among its qualities is that its yield can be up to 160% higher than that of its predecessors, which is a very good advantage taking into account that coffee production is currently very low in Cuba.

The experts noted that each plant can yield up to seven kilograms. For that reason the new variety is expected to be expanded in the eastern region of Cuba ¬–major coffee production area of the country–, with the creation of a seed bank in that part of the island.

(ACN)