HAVANA, Cuba, Jul 27 (ACN) Cuba highlighted the importance of the Strategic Country Program (PEP) developed in coordination with the World Food Program (WFP) for the 2021-2024 period, reported the embassy of the Caribbean island in Italy.
A statement from the diplomatic mission noted that the representative of Cuba to the International Organizations based in this capital, Ambassador José Carlos Rodriguez, spoke at the virtual meeting in which the members of the WFP Board of Directors analyzed Cuba´s PEP.
The diplomat underlined the importance of the plan 'prepared by WFP in coordination with the Cuban government with the aim of contributing to the strengthening of food security in the country,' said the text.
At the same time, the ambassador denounced the adversities that Cuba must face due to the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States against the people of that country for almost 60 years.
Several members of the Executive Board, from the Latin American and Caribbean and African regions, supported the text presented and recognized the need to support WFP to improve food security in the Antillean nation and consolidate national progress in this area , the note specified.
The Cuban PEP includes priority and impact areas for the socio-economic development of the country, such as increasing the resilience of local food systems to benefit the demand for social protection programs.
One of its goals is to reduce the import of food that can be produced in the country, taking into account that the island imports around 70 percent of the food it needs, at an annual cost of $ 1.7 billion.
The plan also includes improving capacities in disaster management and emergency preparedness and response; increase knowledge about nutrition and healthy diets; and supports the national logistics system.
Likewise, it foresees cooperation between Cuba and WFP in school feeding, based on the increase in local products for students from rural primary schools, added the note on the meeting which was also attended by Rebeca Cutié, counselor for Multilateral Affairs of the Cuban embassy in Italy.