The sale of subsidized bread in the province of Ciego de Ávila has been limited to alternate days due to the critical situation in the supply of wheat flour, which currently barely meets 50% of the demand needed to maintain daily service for the population.
According to information provided to Invasor, Alfre Menéndez Pérez, the governor of Ciego de Ávila, and Yadier Pérez Téllez, coordinator of Agro-Food Programs of the provincial government, stated that the distribution scheme establishes that this week bread will be sold on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. In the following week, sales will take place on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, in a rotation aimed at balancing the shortage.
The measure is part of the local government's efforts to keep an essential service operational, amid a severe supply crisis that is also affecting other provinces in the country.
A national crisis of regulated bread
The situation in Ciego de Ávila is not isolated. In Artemisa, bread is also distributed on alternate days and is made with mixtures of sweet potato, cassava, and pumpkin to stretch the limited flour available. Additionally, agreements have been signed with private entities to import small quantities of the product.
In Guantánamo, the authorities have restricted the distribution of regulated bread to those under 13 years of age and prioritized social centers. Meanwhile, the prices of bread in the private sector have skyrocketed, generating significant criticism among citizens.
In Mayabeque, bread is arriving every four days with reduced weight, while wood-fired ovens are being used due to frequent blackouts. The quality of the product has also been compromised.
Similar cases are reported in Santiago de Cuba, where production is practically at a standstill; in Cienfuegos, where the use of aged flour is acknowledged; and in Camagüey, where the population remains without regular access to rationed bread.
Uncertainty and citizen dissatisfaction
Across the country, the population has reacted with concern to what they perceive as a normalization of extreme rationing. Promises of improvement "by the end of the month" are repeated without any concrete results, while thousands of families rely on a food supply that should be guaranteed by the basic basket.
The lack of concrete and sustainable solutions deepens uncertainty and public discontent, especially among the most vulnerable sectors. In many households, the subsidized bread represents not only a daily necessity but also a marker of the ongoing deterioration in quality of life.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Bread Crisis in Cuba
Why is bread sold on alternate days in Ciego de Ávila?
Bread is sold every other day in Ciego de Ávila due to the shortage of wheat flour, which currently only meets 50% of the demand needed to maintain daily service. This measure aims to balance the shortage and keep an essential service operational amid a deep supply crisis.
What measures have been adopted in other provinces of Cuba to tackle the bread crisis?
In other provinces like Artemisa and Guantánamo, bread is made with mixtures of sweet potato, cassava, and pumpkin to stretch the available flour, and its distribution is limited to vulnerable sectors. In Santiago de Cuba, production is practically at a standstill, while in Cienfuegos and Camagüey, aged flour is used and they face blackouts that complicate production. Authorities have implemented rotating distribution schemes and extreme rationing.
How has the population reacted to the bread crisis in Cuba?
The population has reacted with concern and discomfort at the bread crisis, perceiving a normalization of extreme rationing and a lack of concrete solutions. The scarcity particularly affects the most vulnerable sectors, and promises of improvement have not materialized, deepening uncertainty and public discontent.
What impact does the shortage of bread have on the quality of life of Cubans?
The scarcity of bread directly impacts the quality of life of Cubans, as regulated bread is a staple in their daily diet. Its absence creates food insecurity, exacerbates living conditions, particularly in the most vulnerable households, and reflects the ongoing deterioration of the economic and social situation in the country.
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