In the midst of a deep economic crisis marked by power outages, fuel shortages, and difficulties in securing food, a Cuban deputy delivered an unusual speech in Parliament: an open defense of small and medium-sized enterprises, along with a direct critique of the country's productive decline.
Emilio Interián Rodríguez, president of a cooperative and representative to the National Assembly for the Havana municipality of Arroyo Naranjo, began his remarks by pointing out that six months after the last session of the body, the country's situation is now more serious in key areas such as energy, fuel, and food.
In his opinion, it is not honest to continue promising solutions that never materialize. "We cannot tell our people that if we achieve this, we can escape the current situation and that next year we will still be in the same place," he warned.
From his experience as a producer connected to the agricultural sector, he emphasized that the country needs to apply the same approach with farmers and producers that has been followed—although in a limited way—with small and medium-sized enterprises.
In this regard, he emphasized that in that sector there are valuable individuals who are committed and genuinely eager to work, and although there is also corruption and opportunism, he insisted that most of those who currently support that economic framework do so with effort and tangible results.
Interián stated that, thanks to small and medium-sized enterprises (mipymes), there are now goods and services that the state apparatus has not been able to guarantee for years.
He used as an example a sandpit that is currently leased to a small or medium-sized enterprise, where construction materials can be purchased legally, quickly, and without the endless bureaucratic hurdles that characterize government management.
"When a nut is missing, they go looking for it; when a screw is missing, they search for it. But before, when they were in the state sector, it often happened that they would stop for a screw or a nut, and today they don’t stop. Today, the sand hill, the stone hill, extends from here to there and addresses a major issue for this community," he detailed.
He explained that small and medium-sized enterprises have eliminated the chronic inefficiency that characterizes the state sector, addressing supply issues, fulfilling their contributions, and maintaining essential resources for the population.
For the deputy, that model should be extended to many other strategic sectors.
One of the most sensitive points of his intervention was the reference to livestock and animal feed production.
Interián recalled how, before the revolution, there were small local feed mills in almost every neighborhood, allowing for a stable livestock production.
He recalled conversations with ranchers from that time who exhibited high levels of productivity and availability of basic inputs, without relying on a centralized system that was unable to meet their needs.
This scenario contrasts with the current reality, where producers lack food for livestock, raw materials, and essential supplies, leading to a productive collapse.
"My great dream is that one day I can come and buy the food I want, with the quality I desire, or buy the raw materials and prepare the foods I need for all my productions," he expressed.
Interián also advocated for the need to stop limiting those who have proven their ability to produce.
He argued that if a producer properly utilizes 65 hectares of land, they should receive more and continue to expand their access to resources as long as the results are favorable.
"Let us not be afraid that by working hard, I can make money as happens anywhere in the world," he stated, in an unusual declaration within the official Cuban discourse.
According to the deputy, the limited resources available in the country can no longer be wasted on inefficient structures. They must be allocated to areas where there is knowledge, proper conditions, and proven results.
According to their vision, investing in serious, efficient, and responsible producers would yield visible results in a relatively short period of time.
Interián's words contrast with the dominant economic policy, which for decades has kept the productive sector under strict state control, with low incentives, unattractive prices for farmers, and a persistent shortage of inputs.
While state production remains at historic lows, it is the small and medium-sized enterprises (mipymes) that, despite limitations and high prices, are fulfilling a significant portion of the basic needs of the population.
His intervention highlights a growing tension within the system itself: between those who continue to defend outdated models and those who, through their daily practices of production, demand real changes that will enable the country to regain productivity levels lost over six decades ago.
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