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Official triumphalism once again demonstrated a disconnection from the Cuban reality. During his visit to Laos, Miguel Díaz-Canel expressed gratitude this Sunday to the government of that country for what he described as an “extraordinary contribution to rice production in Cuba using Lao seeds.”
The message, published on his X account (formerly Twitter), sparked outrage both inside and outside the island, as it brutally contrasts with the desperate situation faced by millions of Cuban families, who in recent months have barely received a pound of rice per person through the ration book.
Díaz-Canel's statement comes in a context of productive collapse: in 2025 the national harvest barely covers 20% of domestic consumption, which amounts to about 100,000 tons compared to a demand exceeding 600,000.
In the 1980s, Cuba harvested over 400,000 tons annually, but the lack of supplies, fuel, certified seeds, irrigation systems, and agricultural machinery has reduced productivity to historically low levels, with yields of only 1.5 to 2 tons per hectare, while countries like Vietnam achieve six tons.
The disconnection becomes even more evident when reviewing the daily life of Cubans. In provinces like Santiago de Cuba, the population has had to survive on one pound of rice per month, while in Villa Clara, delayed distributions of two pounds were handed out "for free" as compensation for the shortages.
In Holguín, the quotas for April and May were distributed in August, and in Havana the rice intended for December was delivered at the end of February. The black market, an inevitable escape valve, imposes prices of up to 300 pesos per pound, which are unaffordable for most state workers.
The rice crisis cannot be analyzed in isolation from the overall food situation. According to a study by the United States Department of Agriculture, in 2023 more than 4.2 million Cubans —37.8% of the population— experienced food insecurity.
The average caloric gap in the country was 225 calories per capita per day, far below the recommended threshold of 2,100 kilocalories. The collapse of national grain production, primarily rice and corn, forced an increasing reliance on imports to cover a deficit of 41,000 metric tons in 2023.
The USDA report detailed that between 2016 and 2023, rice production fell by 58%, decreasing from 335,000 to 140,000 metric tons annually.
This debacle is reflected in family tables: while propaganda celebrates the unloading of ships and thanks friendly countries, millions of Cuban households cannot even secure the minimum daily intake. Hunger strikes particularly hard at the most vulnerable sectors, including children, the elderly, and people living in extreme poverty.
Official propaganda often celebrates the arrival of ships loaded with rice as if they were major victories. Frequently embarrassingly,
However, behind every ship are chronic delays, unpaid debts to international suppliers, and the inability to maintain stable production in the country. The official press itself acknowledged in September 2024 that the regulated quotas did not include either coffee or oil, and that rice was arriving in dribs and drabs despite the announcements.
In addition, there are imports and donations: Vietnam sent 10,000 tons of rice this year as humanitarian aid, China delivered in 2024 a donation of 408 tons, and Colombia announced the sale of over 1,000 tons in July.
These shipments, although important for alleviating immediate shortages, are insignificant compared to the needs of a population of over 11 million people.
Therefore, the key question is unavoidable: how does Díaz-Canel dare to speak of an "extraordinary contribution to rice production" when the figures demonstrate a production collapse, an overflowing supply ration book due to delays, and an almost total dependence on foreign imports?
The contrast between the triumphant narrative of the regime and the reality of empty warehouses is more staggering than ever today.
Far from strengthening trust, messages like Díaz-Canel's in Laos highlight a sustained propaganda practice: beautifying the crisis with international gratitude, while the population continues to receive minimal and insecure rations.
Every pound of rice that is delayed is a reminder of the structural inefficiency of a system unable to guarantee the most basic necessity: daily food. And every tweet from the "continuity" that speaks of "extraordinary contributions" reinforces the perception of a leadership disconnected from the real lives of Cubans.
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