THE CUBA "STORY"
When the former Soviet Union
collapsed, Cuba was forced to reinvent herself.
As a result, Cuba has become a
world leader in sustainable farming practices.
In 1999, Cuba won the Right
Livelihood Award of the Swedish Parliament
for world leadership in organic
and urban agriculture.
Just last year, the World
Wildlife Fund named Cuba the only
"sustainable" nation
based on ecological footprint and social development.
QUESTIONS:
How did Cuba become a world leader in sustainable agriculture overnight?
What are the drivers?
What lessons does
this offer for Canada’s farmers? For Global
Communities?
COME SEE FOR YOURSELF!
Organic
fertilization and soil conservation.
The use of organic and biofertilizers have allowed substitution of
organic methods for chemical fertilizers to meet crop nutrient
requirements previously met through external inputs. The use of manure,
sugar cane byproducts (cachaza), organic fertilizers, compost,
bioearth, worm humus, residues from sugarcane (biomass), waste water,
cover crops, mulch, biofertilizers and other materials produce higher
yields and improve soil cover, dry matter content, and soil properties.
Ecological management of pests, disease and weeds.
Elimination of pesticide use is one of the most difficult tasks in
conversion to organic farming practices. The research into
bio-pesticides developed by the Cuban Ministry of Agriculture’s
National Plant Protection Institute (INISAV) is made available to
farmers through the creation of a national network of 280 Centres for
tProduction of Entomophages & Entomopathogens (CREEs) to
manufacture and distribute biocontrol agents suited to local crops and
conditions. CREEs are positioned according to local needs and
have work teams comprised of university-educated specialists, lab
technicians and auxiliary staff. The products are sold directly
to area farmers, reducing transport and storage needs. Production
is highly diversified and specialized by region.
Livestock Management.
The loss of imported feed grains at the beginning of Cuba’s Special
Period resulted in sharp production cutbacks in Cuba’s livestock
production sector. Strong advances in crop rotation and
polyculture were employed to improve soil coverage and quality, control
harmful pests and diseases and increase production. Successful
use of legume-based livestock systems, silvo-pasture and integrated
crop-livestock systems have resulted in significant and sustainable
increases in dietary protein. Bio-controls to treat mites and
other insect pests.
Crop Management.
One million hectares (20% of Cuba’s total farmland) are protected by
the application of biological controls. Much of this land is in
vegetable, tropical vegetable and fruit production. Most of Cuba’s
32,000 hectares of citrus and tree fruits are managed
organically. Organic production methods are being tested in sugar
and coffee (4,500 hectares), cocoa, cocoanut, pineapple and mango
production. Crop rotations reduce soil pathogens. Crop
associations and intercropping keep pest populations low and reduce
disease and weeds; common are corn-bean and cassava-bean associations
but more complex planting such as corn-squash-sweet
potato-beans-cucumbers are also common. Integrated pest
management programs are in place for 27 crops, controlling a total of
74 insect and mite pests and several fungal diseases.
Ecological Soil Management.
Organic techniques such as the use of living barriers, ground cover
with locally adapted pasture species, contour plowing and conservation
tillage systems are used to manage, conserve and recover compacted,
salinized, eroded and otherwise degraded soils.
Urban Agriculture.
In the early 1990’s, in response to food and petroleum shortages, Cuba
made a major commitment to the production of food in cities, or urban
agriculture. Today, Organoponicos (raised bed organic
vegetable production), intensive vegetable gardens, backyard and roof
gardens, small (2-15 hectare) suburban farms and the self-consumption
gardens of large enterprises, institutions and government offices
together contribute an estimated 90 percent of the fresh produce
consumed in Havana. The production goal for Cuba’s urban
agriculture sector is 1.4 million metric tons per year to meet the
national nutritional goal of 300 grams of fresh vegetables per person
per day. Key issues in the development of urban agriculture are
conservation and management of soil fertility and integrated pest and
disease management. Cuba is investigating the introduction of
rabbits in urban agriculture models.
Green Medicines.
Organized production of medicinal plants began in Cuba in
1992. Today, there are 13 provincial farms and 136 municipal
farms producing organic green medicines on 700 hectares of land.
Cuba’s current annual production of medicinal plants and of herbs and
plants used for dyes is 1,000 tons and growing.
How
did Cuba become a world leader in sustainable agriculture overnight?
What are the drivers?
What lessons does
this offer for Canada’s farmers?
For Global
Communities?
COME SEE FOR YOURSELF!
wendy@theholmteam.ca
www.theholmteam.ca
RR #1, HP-8, BOWEN ISLAND,
BC VON 1G0
ph: 604.947.2893
fx: 604.947.2321