In a desperate attempt to alleviate the severe food crisis in Cuba, the regime is reviving the urban agriculture program in the Holguín municipality of Rafael Freyre by transforming a dump into productive plots.
The state-run Canal Caribe posted a report on Facebook this Saturday in which the government boasts about reclaiming plots in neighborhoods and towns, claiming that the secret to the project's success in increasing food production lies in "dedication and the will to act."
In an effort to revive the urban agriculture program that began in 1987, which the regime has admitted has not yielded the expected results, Yailín Álvarez, provincial coordinator of the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR) in Holguín, announced that they have converted a micro-dump into a productive plot, ironically named "La Esperanza" (The Hope).
The produce grown here is destined for vulnerable people in the area, including mothers with more than three children, a maternity home, and a daycare center, according to the state-run channel.
Former spy Gerardo Hernández Nordelo, national coordinator of the CDR, stated via phone that this initiative in the municipality of Rafael Freyre marks the beginning of what he called a “movement of agricultural food production from the neighborhood with the direct participation of the people.”
Additionally, Joel Queipo Ruiz, the first secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) in the province of Holguín, boasted that this productive movement will “spread to the entire province.”
This desperate attempt to grow food and alleviate Cuba's suffocating food situation has its roots in statements made by Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel during a recent visit to the municipality of San Luis, in Santiago de Cuba.
During this visit, Díaz-Canel emphasized to local residents the importance of "planting more" to address the current food shortages they face.
“We are convinced that there is land here to produce the food we need in this municipality. And we have the hands, the strength, and the courage,” Díaz-Canel told a group of people who applauded his confidence that Cubans will survive the crisis and food shortages caused by his policies.
FAQs on Cuba's Food Crisis and Urban Agriculture Initiative
Below are some frequently asked questions about Cuba's current food crisis and the regime's efforts to combat it through urban agriculture.
What is the purpose of converting dumps into urban gardens in Cuba?
The purpose is to alleviate the severe food crisis in Cuba by increasing local food production through urban agriculture.
Who benefits from the produce grown in these urban gardens?
The produce is intended for vulnerable groups in the area, including mothers with more than three children, a maternity home, and a daycare center.
What is the history of the urban agriculture program in Cuba?
The urban agriculture program was initiated in 1987 but has not yielded the expected results, prompting the regime to take desperate measures to revive it.
Who are the key figures involved in this initiative?
Key figures include Yailín Álvarez, provincial coordinator of the CDR in Holguín, Gerardo Hernández Nordelo, national coordinator of the CDR, and Joel Queipo Ruiz, first secretary of the PCC in Holguín.