Cuban province promotes project with bean varieties for food sovereignty

HAVANA, Cuba, Feb 11 (ACN) A project to obtain bean varieties that provide higher yields stands out among the tasks promoted by the Scientific Productive Pole in the Cuban province of Matanzas, as a contribution to food sovereignty.

Elena Bon Torres, sub-delegate of Science, Technology and Innovation in the territory, told the Cuban News Agency that the initiative is being developed in the municipality of Unión de Reyes, as a continuation of a study carried out by experts from the University of Matanzas.

She said that among the expected results are expected to achieve more productive bean varieties, especially in rainfed conditions, in tune with the effects of climate change, and resistant to pests.

According to data provided by researcher Amalia Domínguez Suárez, among the 14 varieties tested in the dry period, Tomeguín, Bolita 42, Cuba, Bat 304, Cuba cueto rojo, and Bayo achieved the best results, with yields between 1.2 and 1.4 tons per hectare.

Elena Bon Torres explained that in areas such as food production, a vital need for the country in view of the current economic situation, the integration between the scientific community, the business sector and the authorities of the province was strengthened to advise on decision making.

The sub-delegate pointed out that experts in the field of social sciences are participating in the guiding teams of different programs, such as the food security program, to consider the impact of food production on the environment and society in order to guarantee its sustainability.

Bon Torres recognized the work of the Indio Hatuey Pasture and Forage Experimental Station, located in the municipality of Perico, which promotes agroecological potato production on an experimental basis on 46 hectares, where the use of national inputs favors the purpose of substituting imports.