GAF
In Cuba, the agroforestry system is committed to food production
The artemiseño agroferestal system contributes to the consolidation of programs and subprograms of marked relevance for the country's economy and for food security in local, territorial areas and with influence on indicators at the national level
The agroforestry system of the Artemisa province is progressively betting on insertion in food production and increased exports of its traditional products.
Since 2003, the agroforestry company Costa Sur has been taking advantage of the benefits of business improvement and incorporates lines that, together with sawn wood and charcoal as leading products, become catalysts of efficiency in the face of the challenge of generating income.
In this regard, the director of Forest Technique and Development in the entity, Libeidys Prieto Ruiz, highlighted: ¨At the present time, we are mainly concerned with exports and the sale of foreign currency productions to clients such as those identified in the Mariel Special Development Zone where around 12 thousand pesos in USD are already reported for the commercialization of pallets and sawn wood; and to the export of charcoal we already contribute 500 tons a year¨.
The work objectives in each of the productive units transcend the fulfillment of the state commission and the forestry farms take agriculture and livestock farming as a priority, given the opportunities of the ecosystems where they intervene.
From the silviculture processes in the nurseries, the development of fruit trees and precious woods, threatened, with danger for conservation or in high demand such as Pine, Cedar, Mahogany, Gemelina, Teak, Acasia, Ocuje and Yamao, is promoted.
In addition, work is underway to restore forests and rehabilitate areas such as coffee and various crops in the mountainous areas and areas of the plain.
Similarly, Prieto Ruíz specified that they are working on a new program in agroforestry farms, where they promote various crops and are inserted into agricultural productions with an emphasis on small livestock in mountain areas, as well as typical fruit trees in these areas to provide not only to the community where the farms are located, but to the UEB's own self-sufficiency.
The diversity of productions allows intervening in various sectors. This is confirmed by the commercialization of cujes for the tobacco industry, charcoal for the domestic market and exports, firewood for the mills during the sugar harvest, among others.
They also find clients in the Cuban Fund of Cultural Assets, the Constroctive Maintenance Company, the Agricultural Company, and add value to the sawn wood in their own carpentry shops where they manufacture parcels, beehive boxes for the beekeeper and items destined for the housing program like doors, windows and furniture.
On the other hand, they carry out actions to confront climate change that are sustained through the National Forest Development Fund and are supported by projects such as Mangrove alive and Connecting landscapes.
¨The company is also inserted in two important projects in fragile ecosystems such as the mangrove ecosystem on the occasion of the Tarea Vida State Plan in southern Artemisa and Güira de Melena and the project Connecting landscapes for action in the mountainous ecosystem¨, added the specialist.
In this way, the artemiseño agroferestal system contributes to the consolidation of programs and subprograms of marked relevance for the country's economy and for food security in local, territorial areas and with influence on indicators at the national level.
