The First Secretary of the Communist Party in Santiago de Cuba, Beatriz Johnson Urrutia, stated that it is necessary to “export and produce food for the population”, during a meeting with farmers in the Tercer Frente municipality, amidst the deep food and energy crisis facing the country.
The official medium TurquinoTeVe reported that Johnson held a discussion with about 50 cooperative producers aimed at analyzing how to strengthen the management of units dedicated to food production in that area, which is considered one of the most agricultural regions of the province.
During the meeting, the leader pointed out that the municipality should take advantage of local development and international collaboration projects, although no specific examples of these initiatives were mentioned or how they would be implemented in practice.
We must export and produce food for the population, Johnson insisted, who also emphasized that "everything has to be part of the management of the Communist Party because there are many resources we have invested in this municipality and they must yield results".
His statements come in a context of widespread food scarcity.
The Prime Minister Manuel Marrero recently asked communist leaders for greater control over resources, while the ruling Miguel Díaz-Canel stated that, in light of the energy crisis, Cubans will have to primarily consume what is produced in their territories.
In practice, farmers face shortages of fuel, fertilizers, machinery, and transportation, which seriously limits their productive capacity.
Many cooperatives must work with conditions and tools comparable to the 18th century while being asked for results typical of modern agriculture. As official pressure to increase food production rises, food prices are also skyrocketing due to severe inflation in the country.
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