International development projects favor mountainous regions of Cuba

 HOLGUIN, Cuba, Jul 15 (ACN) Two international projects to favor development in the mountainous zone are being carried out in the eastern province of Holguin aimed at promoting resilient agriculture among small producers.

These programs, called "Prodecafe" and " Mas Cafe 3", financed by the United Nations, benefit more than 30 cooperatives in the municipalities of Sagua de Tanamo, Mayari, Frank Pais, Moa and Cueto, belonging to the Turquino Plan.

Geovanny Zaldivar Martinez, sub-delegate for the environment in the territory, told the Cuban News Agency that the main objectives include diversifying agroforestry production, modernizing equipment and incorporating new practices.

He indicated that so far tractors with tools, chainsaws and tool modules have been received in order to encourage coffee planting and improve the living conditions of farmers and their families.

Likewise, in Sagua de Tanamo, the cultivation of the Arabica variety is intensifying, which has an increase in exports, at the same time that the aggregates for that industry are increasing, the executive explained.

This economic progress takes into account the protection of endemic varieties of flora and fauna, whose exclusive genera are in critical danger of extinction, which are concentrated in these prioritized ecosystems.

Holguin is also increasing the monitoring of plant populations, environmental education in mountain settlements and economic benefits to farmers who include agroecological practices in the planting and harvesting processes.

Since 2013, the UN International Fund for Agricultural Development has been promoting several programs in the eastern provinces of Santiago de Cuba, Guantanamo and Holguin, focused on reducing the impact on agriculture of global warming and high intensity meteorological phenomena.