In a speech characterized by a moralizing tone and evasion of responsibility, the Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez reprimanded the country's farmers for low agricultural production, stating that “there is plenty of land to cultivate”, while failing to acknowledge the role of the State in the structural inefficiency of the Cuban agricultural system.
During the closing of the National Congress of the National Association of Small Farmers (ANAP), the president reiterated old promises of productive transformation, blaming the farming sector for not making better use of the leased lands, despite the multiple restrictions imposed by the government itself, according to a report from the Caribbean Channel.
“This congress will truly be historic if we manage to change the situation regarding food production in the country… there is a lot of land to cultivate, there is a lot of land to put into production,” said Díaz-Canel in a speech that overlooked the serious issues of access to inputs, technology, and autonomy faced by Cuban producers.
Despite admitting that in previous stages the country had abundant resources that were wasted “without achieving efficiency”, the leader did not take institutional responsibility nor proposed fundamental reforms to the centralized model that keeps Cuban agriculture restrained.
In his remarks, there was also room to criticize the intermediaries in food marketing, accusing them of unjustly inflating prices for the population and profiting without adding value.
“Every time there is a middleman, the price goes up for the population (…) There are four or five people making more than the producer,” he stated.
However, their critique overlooks a crucial point, it is the State itself that designs and regulates the distribution chain, limits the freedom of producers to sell, imposes price controls, and monopolizes access to markets and supplies.
Instead of proposing a genuine opening to agricultural trade, Díaz-Canel suggests that cooperatives sell "directly" to local markets, without specifying how they will do so in an environment saturated with bureaucratic obstacles, arbitrary inspections, and a lack of incentives.
On his part, Félix Duarte Ortega, president of the ANAP and official of the Communist Party, merely repeated the lines of the official speech, appealing to “commitment” and the “increase in production” despite the adverse conditions.
"The delegates and guests reaffirmed their willingness (...) based on the sector's potential and the commitment they make to the nourishment of our people (...) under any circumstances," said Duarte, without referencing the historical demands of the farmers or the need for a structural agrarian reform.
Instead of promoting true decentralization, moralizing exhortations and calls for "creativity" and "heroism" are recycled. In a country where more than 70% of food is imported, and where markets are understocked and prices are soaring, the leaders' calls increasingly sound disconnected from the reality of the countryside and the people.
Recently, in Las Tunas, the official stated that “we have much more land cultivated than in other periods". However, national production data tells a very different story.
According to official figures, rice production, one of the main staples of the Cuban diet, barely reaches 30% of what was harvested in 2018, highlighting the failure of the policies implemented by the government.
Frequently Asked Questions about Agriculture and Díaz-Canel's Speech in Cuba
What criticism did Díaz-Canel make of the farmers in his speech?
Díaz-Canel reprimanded farmers for the low agricultural production, asserting that there is plenty of land to cultivate. However, he did not acknowledge the role of the State in the structural inefficiencies of the Cuban agricultural sector, overlooking the challenges faced by producers, such as the lack of supplies and technology.
How does state control affect agricultural production in Cuba?
State control limits producers' freedom to sell and sets capped prices, monopolizing access to markets and supplies. This hinders the efficient production and distribution of food, contributing to the food crisis the country is facing.
What solutions does Díaz-Canel propose to improve agricultural production?
Díaz-Canel suggests that cooperatives sell directly to local markets, but does not provide clear details on how to overcome the existing bureaucratic obstacles. His speech focused on promises of productive transformation without structural reforms to the centralized model.
What is the current situation of rice production in Cuba?
The rice production in Cuba barely reaches 30% of what was harvested in 2018, highlighting the failure of the policies implemented by the government. This decline reflects the agricultural crisis and the lack of real support for the sector, exacerbated by the regime's management.
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