Potato Planting in Ciego de Ávila Faces Persistent Challenges

The potato planting season in Ciego de Ávila has begun, mirroring the issues of previous years with delays, resource shortages, and challenging weather conditions. At La Cuba Agricultural Enterprise in the Baraguá municipality, only 13.42 hectares have been planted with locally stored seeds. These seeds, kept in refrigerated systems, have faced disruptions due to unstable electricity supplies and a lack of essential resources, as reported by the state-run Invasor newspaper.

Raúl Monguía Rodríguez, a specialist in tropical tubers from the Provincial Agriculture Delegation, stated that the goal for this campaign is to plant 700 hectares to achieve a harvest of approximately 14,000 tons of potatoes. However, these targets are far from being guaranteed due to delays in receiving crucial inputs like diesel for land preparation and excessive soil moisture, which complicates the farmers' work. They also confront uncontrolled weed growth, slowing down the planting process.

This situation, unfortunately, is not new. Despite efforts to maintain production, adverse working conditions persist. Land preparation, scheduled for August and September, was significantly delayed, forcing producers to work under pressure. Although some fertilizer is available, logistical challenges continue to impact seed selection quality standards.

Part of the production will rely on high-yield foreign potato varieties, expected to be harvested starting in February. These are intended to supply the pre-fried potato line of the Ceballos Agroindustrial Company, and also serve social consumption, tourism, and the general population. Additionally, there are plans to preserve seeds on 100 hectares to ensure an increase of 1,400 tons in the next season, an ambitious goal amidst numerous constraints.

Agricultural enterprises like Arnaldo Ramírez and La Cuba, along with cooperatives such as Paquito González and Revolución de Octubre, are participating in the campaign, yet structural challenges remain. The recurrence of these issues year after year raises doubts about the state agricultural system's ability to overcome difficulties, impacting both production goals and the stability of a sector crucial for feeding the population.

The uncertainty of meeting these forecasts raises questions about the future of one of Ciego de Ávila's most important agricultural productions. Meanwhile, farmers continue to face obstacles that seem unchanged over time, leaving the population waiting for solutions that have yet to materialize.

However, the potato planting problem is nationwide, affecting all campaigns. Earlier this year, production in Cuba was lower than expected due to power outages impacting irrigation, as acknowledged by Miguel Sánchez García, director general of the Agricultural and Forestry Business Group (GEAF), in statements to the official newspaper El Artemiseño.

The 280 hectares planted in Güira de Melena, San Antonio de los Baños, and Alquízar could not be properly irrigated because of power cuts caused by fuel shortages, according to the director. This product scarcity often leads to long queues, such as the hundreds who waited for hours in April at an agromarket in Vedado, Havana, to purchase rationed potatoes.

In 2023, due to "high levels of rot," potatoes were sold in Cuban state markets, as recognized by José Luis Valladares Santana, deputy agriculture delegate in Villa Clara, to the state-run CMHW radio station. Valladares admitted that the potatoes offered by the Collection Company at the Buen Viaje State Agricultural Market and the José Martí Distribution showed significant deterioration, reflecting the sector's struggles to ensure quality produce.