The province of Granma concluded its 2024-2025 sugar harvest with disastrous figures, as it barely achieved 27% of the planned goal, which amounts to a meager 5,277 metric tons of sugar, far below the 19,871 that were scheduled.
Obstacles began to pile up from the outset: delays in repairs due to the extension of the previous sugar harvest, issues with electrical supply, and difficulties in the production of industrial gases. The result was a milling limited to 35% of the planned cane, around 253,000 tons, reported the official newspaper Granma.
The Enidio Díaz Machado sugar mill, located in the municipality of Campechuela and the last one operating in the area, was unable to offset the extent of the shortfall.
The contribution of the other mills was practically symbolic. Bartolomé Masó managed to process only 6% of the planned sugarcane, Arquímedes Colina 7%, and Grito de Yara 18%, figures that reflect a system that is barely functioning with assisted breathing.
Amidst the downturn, there is a proposal to produce raw sugar at some mills like Arquímedes Colina (Bayamo) and Roberto Ramírez (Niquero), more as a temporary measure than a solution.
According to the report, Granma has a sugar workforce of 13,000 workers across eight municipalities, and although efforts are being made to recover equipment and train personnel, tangible results are unfortunately lacking.
The situation in the province is not very different from the rest of the country, where the sector suffers from the same issues: late harvests, limited operational mills, and a chronic lack of resources. The goal of ensuring sugar in the basic basket and reducing the high prices that burden the population seems increasingly distant.
At the end of May, the Government Council of the eastern province recognized the production disaster in the sugar sector, characterized by severe non-compliance, disorganization, idle fields, and debts to workers.
The report presented by Aresqui Hernández Ramírez, coordinator of Programs and Objectives of the provincial government, emphasized that alongside the low figures, there are million-dollar losses, such as the 149.3 million pesos lost in fires in unharvested fields, lands invaded by woody plants, and delays in payments to workers of cooperatives and companies in the sector.
Granma also carries the burden of 26,000 idle hectares, which places it in 12th position nationally in terms of efficiency in the so-called diverse crops, noted the official newspaper La Demajagua.
During the session, the direct impact of this debacle on the economy and daily life of the population was acknowledged. Governor Yanetsy Terry Gutiérrez claimed that this is “a sector deeply affected by material restrictions and by the effects of the U.S. blockade.”
A recent report by Reuters indicated that for the first time since the 19th century, the annual sugar production in Cuba will drop below 200,000 metric tons, according to recent estimates based on official reports and sources from the sector.
Although the decline has been ongoing for several years, the figure marks a new historical low in an industry that was, for decades, the economic pillar of the country and a symbol of its national identity.
In recent weeks, several official media outlets have briefly presented alarming statistics: several key mills have produced less than 15% of their sugar plan, while others barely manage to survive amidst blackouts, obsolete machinery, and a shortage of cane.
For example, the province of Camagüey produced 4,512 tons of raw sugar out of a plan of 23,521 tons, which represents 19.2% of completion.
In the case of Guantánamo, rather than showing recovery, by early June it had only produced about 2,900 tons of sugar, which represents 38% of the initial plan of 7,632 tons.
It also represents a 26% decline compared to the 3,928 tons obtained in the 2023-2024 campaign, the worst ever recorded at the Argeo Martínez mill, the only active sugar mill in the eastern region.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Sugar Harvest Crisis in Granma and Cuba
What was the result of the sugar harvest in the province of Granma in 2024-2025?
The sugar harvest in the province of Granma for the 2024-2025 period was a disaster, achieving barely 27% of the production plan, which translates to 5,277 metric tons of sugar, well below the 19,871 that were scheduled. Various issues such as delays in repairs, problems with electricity supply, and the production of industrial gases contributed to this failure.
What factors contributed to the failure of the sugar harvest in Granma?
The failure of the harvest in Granma was due to delays in the repairs of the mills caused by prolonged previous harvests, issues with electrical supply, and difficulties in the production of industrial gases. Additionally, there was a milling limited to 35% of the planned cane, and the contributions from the mills were almost symbolic.
How does the sugar crisis impact the economy and daily life of the people in Granma?
The sugar crisis in Granma has a direct impact on the economy and the daily lives of its residents. The lack of sugar affects the basic food basket, and high prices take a toll on the community. Furthermore, million-dollar losses and the disorganization of the sugar sector worsen the precarious economic situation in the province.
What measures are being taken to address the crisis in the Cuban sugar industry?
To tackle the crisis, the Cuban government has announced that municipal bureaus will analyze indicators to adjust the course of the harvest, as well as bolster monitoring ahead of the hurricane season. However, the concrete solutions are still insufficient given the structural collapse of the sector, which includes a lack of resources and outdated machinery.
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