Harvest of opportunities

The search for alternatives to produce and market food is a perennial challenge for the more than 160 peasants of the Ignacio Agramonte Credit and Services Cooperative (CCS), in the province of Ciego de Avila, who strive to reduce the impact of the deficit and rising prices of consumables.

A multi-causal global crisis and the tightening of the U.S. economic, commercial and financial blockade of Cuba, the main obstacle to trade relations and the purchase of products in nearby markets, are the main barriers to the Island’s efforts to achieve food sovereignty.

Pedro Angel Lau Rodriguez, a producer with the aforesaid CCS, remarked that production costs have increased up to 10 times, in keeping with both the rising prices of fuel, fertilizers, insecticides, fungicides, etc., and the salaries paid since the beginning of the monetary reform.

“In this context, the premise is to prevent abuse and speculation, both of which are crimes under the current legislation,” he said. “Coping with high prices imposed by the conditions to produce is not the same as fixing excessive sales prices with profit motives.”

Aware that in this chain consumers cannot be the weakest link—although they still are in practice—the CSS members seek to reduce production costs by using animal traction to plough land, saving electricity by turning off irrigation systems at peak times, and the streamline water consumption.
During the last five years, the use of organic fertilizers, pest control and environmental protection in the province of Ciego de Avila has been on an upward trend.

Engineer Raúl Hernández Martínez, Biological Control specialist of the Provincial Division of Plant Health, stressed that biopesticides are used in all throughout the region.

THE EXACT LOCATION

For over a year, "La Esperanza" (Hope, in English), perhaps the most famous sales outlet in the municipality of Morón based on the variety and quality of its offers at affordable prices and its proper service, has offered a 30% price discount to homebound patients and to health professionals directly engaged in the fight against COVID-19.

Led by Pedro, its four employees have also donated produce to local hospitals, isolation centers, maternity and old people's homes, and children's daycare centers.

Pedro remarks that they have made significant profits for the benefit of both the outlet and the tax collectors. They have used the dividends to improve working conditions and get essential means such as refrigeration equipment for processed foods and undertake other productions through contracts with other suppliers to market highly demanded goods such as tomato paste, sauces, fruit juice, jam, guava bars and pickles.

Thus, "La Esperanza" honors its name by giving its more than 2,000 daily customers a chance to find some of the most sought-after agricultural products, in a comfortable and customer-friendly environment that invites you to return.