The Minister of Food Industry of Cuba (MINAL), Alberto López Díaz, appeared before the National Assembly of People's Power (ANPP) with a speech full of rhetoric and few concrete proposals, as captured by the cameras of the National Television News (NTV).
His intervention focused on describing the already known issues in the sector, without providing clear solutions or a defined action plan to address the severe food crisis affecting the island.
“The report indicates the extent of the deficit of imported raw materials for national endogenous production that we have experienced. And in the strategy we are establishing, one of the priorities of this commission is also to strengthen financial frameworks and enhance the value chain to gradually transform these productions for the population, so that they can be offered at a much more affordable price,” said López Díaz.
While he mentioned the deficit of imported raw materials as the main obstacle to national production, stating that they are working on "new financial strategies and productive linkages" to reduce food costs, the minister did not specify what these strategies would be or provide specific timelines for their implementation.
The deputies present in the session expressed concern over the lack of a defined action plan. Some urged the ministry to maximize its capabilities in strategic sectors such as the export of food products, including rums, whose production has been impacted by the crisis in the sugar industry. However, no specific measures were mentioned to reverse this situation.
History of Unfulfilled Promises and Recurring Crises in Cuba's Food Industry
The Ministry of Food Industry has been at the center of public debate in Cuba throughout 2024. At the beginning of the year, the then-minister Manuel Sobrino Martínez was dismissed due to management issues and failures in the food supply. His successor, Alberto López Díaz, took office with promises of transformation that have yet to come to fruition.
In July 2024, López Díaz publicly acknowledged the lack of resources and the need to change the production model to ensure the supply of essential food items. However, in November of the same year, he admitted that the problems persist and that efforts are being made without visible results.
The production and supply of milk remains a critical issue in the MINAL. Recent reports indicate that many families receive milk only every three days due to collection and distribution problems.
López Díaz's appearance before the ANPP only reinforced the widespread perception among citizens of the rampant incompetence that permeates the government of Miguel Díaz-Canel's "continuity," which has plunged the population into the worst food crisis in the nation's history.
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