GAF
Economic sectors of Cuba apply strategies for recovery
The Ministers of Agriculture, Food Industry, and of Energy and Mines of Cuba presented before the National Assembly of People's Power some actions that these sectors promote to overcome economic difficulties.
The head of Agriculture, Idael Pérez, commented to the deputies about the severe effects suffered with the delivery of inputs for agricultural production, but highlighted the political will that allowed the adoption of 63 measures aimed at fostering an increase in food production. These provisions, he said, are also intended to improve the management of the agricultural system and move closer to self-sufficiency, so the priority for the ministry is to implement them quickly and effectively. Until the end of September, the Caribbean nation made food imports worth 1,348 million dollars, and the productions of rice, corn, milk and pork, among other lines, were not met. These data endorse the need to boost agriculture, for which it is necessary to improve aspects, such as productive chains, and take better advantage of access to foreign exchange trading and new forms of financing, Pérez said. The sector has 400,000 producers and around 5,000 cooperatives, but the biggest challenge, said the minister, is to achieve greater efficiency in state-owned companies and better synergy with private producers. The head of the Food Industry, Manuel Santiago, addressed the challenges of this branch. "Our businessmen have lacked aggressiveness to take advantage of the measures approved for state entities," he acknowledged, adding that problems persist with contracts and non-payment of agricultural producers. There are also reservations in the possible productive chains with the mini-industries, local development and the application of science and innovation, the latter aspect that will allow substituting imports, he pointed out. A great challenge is to eliminate companies with losses, said Santiago, who commented that 30 entities are in that condition, of the 500 that in the country operated with negative numbers until the end of September. "We have to stop being a burden on the economy and contribute not only from a productive point of view, but also financially," he said. Meanwhile, the Minister of Energy and Mines, Liván Larronte, explained that Cuba designed a strategy to recover electricity generation capacities until the end of the year and in the longer term. It is expected to gradually return 609 mega Watt to the national electro-energy system, which will allow the current complex situation to be overcome due to the effects caused by the operation of the generating plants, the lack of financing that delays maintenance and the economic, commercial and economic blockade. financier of the United States.
