Cuban parliamentarians discuss food production in the country

HAVANA, Cuba, Apr 9 (ACN) Members of the Economic Affairs and Agrifood Commissions of the National Assembly of People's Power (Parliament) exchanged, via videoconference from the National Capitol, on the urgency of contributing to the organization and strengthening of food production programs in the country.

During the meeting, Ramon Aguilar Betancourt, president of the Agrifood Commission of the legislature, referred to the deficiencies in 2023 in the contracting of agricultural production and the control and checking mechanisms on the legality of land tenure, along with the important role of the authorities in accompanying the cooperative processes, according to the Parliament site.

He also explained the functions and responsibility of the local Administration Councils in regulating and setting prices in their regions, while reflecting on the implementation of the recently approved decree law to coordinate and dynamize the management of agricultural cooperatives, and in particular the work of the different economic actors in Cuba.

Roberto Perez Perez, Cuban deputy minister of economy and planning (MEP), stressed that there are three indispensable tools in the country today for food production and that affect the evaluation and creation of local balances in this regard: municipal development strategies, Law 148 on Food Sovereignty and Food and Nutritional Security, and the Economy Plan approved in all territories and territorial governments.

Felix Martinez Suarez, president of the Parliament's Economic Affairs Committee, emphasized that these issues respond to the National Development Plan until 2030 on the Island and that they are a priority in the implementation process of the Government's measures to correct distortions and boost the economy during 2024.

He also pointed out the need to seek in these agri-food areas lines of financing, in order to increase the offers to the people and contribute, in a sustained manner, to the organization and strengthening of food production programs in Cuba.

In the exchange, with the participation of executives of the Ministry of Domestic Trade; Tamara Valido Benítez, president of this parliamentary commission, told deputies that this exercise is progressing according to schedule in the analysis of the governing functions of the agency; the implementation of policies and programs; the results in the implementation of the Economic and Social Strategy, and development prospects of the Domestic Trade system; and the fulfillment of the objectives and goals of the plan of the economy of the business systems belonging to the sector.

The meeting detailed the evaluations made to date by the MPs on essential indicators such as the digital transformation program in the sector, and of the transformations in the local subordinate retail trade.