GAF
Cuba adjusts agricultural prices and seeks greater food efficiency
Havana, Feb 17 (Prensa Latina) In the context of the monetary and economic order developed by the Cuban government, agricultural prices were adjusted in order to achieve greater food efficiency, the Minister of Finance and Prices, Meisi Bolaños, reported today.
When intervening in the Mesa Redonda radio and television program, Bolaños stressed that within the economic and social strategy implemented by the country, the increase and diversification of food production is prioritized, as well as the reduction of imports to achieve food sovereignty. She recalled that in the last 10 years the purchase prices of agricultural products were modified with the aim of incentivizing producers. As part of the so-called Ordinance Task, in execution since January 1, and listening to the criteria of economic actors related to the issue, the authorities decided to centralize only the prices of 30 storage products, which rise two to three times, between they, tobacco and sugar cane. The rest, said Bolaños, will be decentralized and will be agreed between state companies, territorial governments and producers. She added that the state budget will only subsidize a minimum group of products, such as corn for animal feed, tomatoes and fruits for industry, and, temporarily, robusta coffee. Another novelty is related to the impact of the tax burden in this sector, since taxes are reduced, which has an impact on greater utility for the productive forces, the minister said. For his part, the head of the Commission for the Implementation and Development of the Guidelines, Marino Murillo, pointed out that throughout this process, strict discipline must be maintained and the contract fulfilled, as it is a social commitment of the producers.
