GAF
Coffee and food production go hand in hand in the Cienfuegos hill (II)
The coffee recovery, Development Program through, in the Guamuhaya mountainous massif, of the Cienfuegos municipality of Cumanayagua, is proceeding at an increasing average rate of 15 percent each year. On such results and strategies he exchanges with September 5 Osniel Villa Palacio, technical and development director of the Eladio Machín Processing Company.
Scope of the application of science and technique?
“As the Development Program progresses, we have accepted the good practices of coffee growers from other territories. I can point to you as an example the grafting and reproduction by coffee cuttings, in search of achieving varieties that are more resistant to pests and diseases and at the same time greater adaptability to the impact of climate change.
“The application of the results emanating from the Science and Technology forums among producers, on the other hand, has been very beneficial. There are more and more followers of the use of agroecology with the example of methods that, in addition to achieving healthier productions, prevent soil erosion and provide care for the environment.
"The certified seed bank itself is a good example of the projections of coffee development in the region, based on science and technique and the heritage of production of this exportable item in other countries. The new technologies used here, both in the agricultural and industrial infrastructure for grain processing, constitute paradigms of good work with scientific bases ”.
"Later, the Mayarí farm has become a benchmark in the use of biological means and living barriers to control pests and diseases. Here, also, vermiculture and the elaboration of organic matter and green manure have found a way to contribute to development with few resources ”.
“No less important in this universe is the fact of having ecological pulping machines in El Nicho, San Blas and Cuatro Vientos, which in addition to providing an industrial response to the processing of all grain, including that destined for export as the recognized brand Crystal Mountain, avoids contamination of the environment ”.
Do they follow the same line in food production?
"Our company has well defined food production plans in the mountains, with municipal and family self-sufficiency programs for the mountain population, as well as contributions to the rest of the province. In this sense, all the plans for various crops and vegetables have been fulfilled, among other destinations with 8,000 inhabitants of the Reina neighborhood and the Junco Sur district, in the city of Cienfuegos.
“Today we can say with satisfaction that some areas of vegetables and various crops are consolidated in Mamey, Crucecitas, El Nicho and La Vega. Meanwhile, in the El Naranjo valley, the delivery of these fertile lands to usufructuaries was adopted; The five hectares of that enclave are now planted with corn to replace imports, and then they will alternate with other crops.
"Of course, we are convinced that there are potentials in the hills to reach higher volumes of food, vegetables, grains and vegetables, so as to make this massif both the coffee emporium to which we aspire, and an important agricultural hub in the food production".
