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The Cuban government announced that starting in April, a new method of distributing the regulated family basket will be implemented, based on a principle that could bring about a profound change in the domestic economy of millions of households, as products will no longer be subsidized, but rather individuals.
The measure was announced on February 17 during a session of the Municipal Administration Council of Cotorro, in Havana, led by Governor Yanet Hernández Pérez.
According to the official media source Tribuna de La Habana, the basket will be "differentiated," featuring products that will be regulated but available for sale at prices different from current ones.
In practice, this means that items would no longer be sold at the traditional subsidized price for the entire population and would instead be marketed at higher values, while state support would be directed specifically to certain citizens.
Although it has not yet been detailed how the beneficiaries will be identified or what mechanism will be used to compensate them, the announcement indicates a transformation of the model that for decades ensured symbolic prices for basic goods.
The change, as has been reported, will require accelerated work for the remainder of February and March to prepare the new framework. It was also emphasized that the productive capacity of each territory will be fundamental, suggesting that supply may increasingly depend on local production.
The meeting emphasized the urgency of eliminating idle lands and expediting their allocation to boost food production, in accordance with the Law of Food Sovereignty.
The governor urged not to leave "a single piece of land uncultivated," in a context marked by difficulties in fuel supply and issues in transporting milk.
Alternative measures to address the energy crisis were also discussed, such as baking bread with firewood, producing charcoal, and installing solar panel kits in sensitive institutions like nursing homes, polyclinics, and bank branches.
Although the official discourse frames these decisions within the adverse economic scenario facing the country, the announcement regarding the basic goods basket generates the greatest expectation and uncertainty among the population. For many Cuban families, the real impact will be measured in their wallets: how much prices will increase and who will be protected under the new subsidy system.
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