Cuban Vice President: “We owe the producers and we must pay them”

Cuban Vice President Salvador Valdés Mesa recognized that the State accumulates non-payments to provinces such as Artemisa and Mayabeque and the Collection Company, which translate into debts with agricultural producers.

“We owe the producers and we must pay them,” said a Cuban official, without specifying further responsibilities.

Since 2020, complaints of state non-payments made by Cuban farmers have abounded. The samein a cooperative in Santiago de Cuba, what inanother from Matanzas, or ina livestock company from Holguín, the situation does not improve: debts of thousands of pesos that extend, sometimes for more than 6 months, and that discourage producers.

Even in the comments to the news of the meeting published in the official mediaCubadebate, a Cuban complained that the Havana Small Livestock Company owes him money since December 2020. "He has not paid anything for the rabbits that the producers of Havana delivered to him in January and February 2021 and nothing happens, not even There is no explanation to the producers. That is a shame," he said.

The first vice minister of Agriculture, Ydael Pérez Brito, and several program coordinators of the provincial government and presidents and mayors of the municipal governments were also present at the meeting with Valdés Mesa to evaluate the progress of the different programs that must guarantee food production. and the supposed "self-sufficiency" of each of the Havana territories.

The vice president said that the authorities of that province "analyze proposals" to unblock marketing, among them, the legalization of unlicensed forklift drivers, the creation of Wholesale Business Units and the leasing of agricultural markets.

Officials also insisted on plans for urban, suburban and family agriculture in the capital, which involve planting vegetables. From the 3.5 square meters of garden per inhabitant, at the beginning of the year, it has grown to reach 4.34 square meters, and it is projected to reach 10, said the provincial delegate.

Indicators related to the marketing of agricultural products were also discussed at the meeting. The capital municipalities with the lowest amounts of food per capita are La Lisa (13.2 of the 30 pounds they are supposed to receive), Diez de Octubre (15.7) and Boyeros (15.8).

Authorities in these territories justified the low figures by referring to the closure of rented markets and self-employed outlets during January and February, due to the pandemic.

For his part, the Cuban vice president called for growing and planting more, as well as maintaining permanent monitoring with marketing.

Other officials referred to the entry of agricultural products into the city and reported that so far this year, Artemisa has failed to comply with the figures agreed upon with the capital.

When speaking before managers and businessmen in the sector, the vice president directed completing and dignifying the marketing network for agricultural products, ensuring both hygiene and presence, as well as the quality of what is sold and the services.

Valdés Mesa insisted on making better use of the available land in the capital and reaching 10 square meters per inhabitant for planting vegetables. "That wonderful city will be even more wonderful when it has all its lands and patios planted," he assured.

While the promised "gardens" arrive, the only thing visible in Cuba's retail networks after the so-called "Ordering Task" is a tremendous shortage of food,