The Minister of Food Industry (MINAL), Alberto López Díaz, emphasized in his message that Cuba has the necessary infrastructure and technology to produce food, but the lack of "raw materials" prevents the regime from "ensuring contributions to the regulated basic basket."
His appearance this Thursday on the state-run television program Mesa Redonda provided shocking statements about the food scarcity affecting the country and the increasing food insecurity experienced by the population.
"At the National Assembly, we explained to the people that we have the conditions, the installed capacity, and the strength of having a capacity created by the Revolution in all provinces. We have food production industries, and we have the installed capacity to produce over one million tons in the country, [but] we lack the raw materials," said López Díaz.
With his words, the head of MINAL passed the "hot potato" to his counterpart from the Ministry of Agriculture (MINAGRI), Ydael Pérez Brito, justifying his sector's lack of productivity by citing the shortage of "raw materials" for industrial processing.
"If the raw materials were to appear, we would start processing," assured López Díaz, shifting the responsibility for the lack of processed foods to Pérez Brito, who acknowledged in mid-October a significant drop in protein production, poultry, and pig farming due to a lack of supplies, fuel shortages, and weather conditions.
"Thanks to the Revolution," the minister stated, "Cuba currently has facilities in all provinces for the dairy industry, meat industry, fishing industry, processed foods industry, coffee industry..."
"All those industries are scattered throughout the country. We also have a strength in the organization, which consists of more than 100,000 affiliated workers—committed workers who have a sense of belonging and know what they're doing..." he added.
In mid-October, on the same television segment, Pérez Brito reported on the challenges facing Cuban agriculture in 2024, acknowledging that the country produces no more than 200,000 tons of food.
In that regard, the official acknowledged significant losses in the pork program, in egg production, and in other areas. While previously producing between four and five million eggs daily, his ministry now only delivers one million two hundred thousand, provided that producers are able to feed their livestock.
"For example, in the poultry program, four years ago we had eight million chickens, including layers, breeders, and replacements. Today, we have three million. We have decreased by five million chickens in four years," said Pérez Brito.
He also explained that “four years ago, we had about 96,000 breeding sows, which allowed us to supply a significant amount to the balances, primarily to the food industry, of over 150,000 tons of meat. Today, we have 26,000 breeding sows, and they are not in good condition.”
The appearance of the head of MINAGRI cleared the way for López Díaz, who was appointed at the beginning of February by the leader Miguel Díaz-Canel to head MINAL, following the dismissal of Manuel Sobrino Martínez, known for his controversial statements regarding "decrepit hens" and "lobster in exchange for milk for children."
To avoid the grotesque image presented by Sobrino Martínez in his explanations regarding the food shortage, Díaz-Canel appointed López Díaz, 56, who was serving as the governor of Villa Clara, his province of birth and training as a "cadre" of the Cuban leader.
Cubans, who have been witnessing the disappearance of products like eggs, meat, milk, and coffee from the regulated basic food basket for years, now have the government's explanation for the food scarcity from Díaz-Canel.
"Shortage of raw materials," says the head of MINAL, pointing to the one from MINAGRI. "Blockade and lack of fuel and supplies," responds the one being mentioned. And that’s how the matter is explained, with the "appointed" content and Pérez Brito and López Díaz approved.
“The country has an existing infrastructure, in some cases outdated, with a lack of spare parts… But given the current conditions we have, with raw materials, we can make progress,” asserted the latest minister whom the leader of the “continuity” sent to Cuban Television to continue stretching the narrative and justifying his incompetent management.
Regarding the situation of obsolescence and destruction of the Cuban food industry, López Díaz stated in mid-July that "there was no need to invest in new technologies and infrastructure to produce food" because "the greatest strength of the sector lies in its workers, who have the experience to produce the food that the country needs."
“In the conditions of a war economy, we do not need to invest in new technologies and infrastructure; with what we have, we have the sufficient capacity to reverse and transform the current situation,” he added.
In February, following the public announcement of his appointment, López Díaz emphasized the shortage of "workforce" in the agricultural sector and attributed this issue to recent demographic trends in Cuba, as well as to "the laziness and idleness of Cubans of working age."
"We don't have a workforce! There’s no workforce due to demographic issues, because of lazy people, and because people are not inclined to work hard. And yet, we want the market to have [products]," said the new trusted official appointed by Díaz-Canel to address the food crisis faced by Cubans.
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