[NYTr] Cuba Plans to Create 2,800 New Organic Farms

[nytr at olm.blythe-systems.com]

Radio Havana Cuba
http://www.radiohc.cu

Cuba to Create 2,800 New Organic Farms

Las Tunas, July 13 (RHC-Periodico26)--Cuba is looking forward to creating
2,800 new organic farms for the production of vegetables, according to Dr.
Adolfo Rodriguez Nodals, head of the National Urban Agriculture Program.

In an exclusive interview with ACN news agency during a working visit to
Las Tunas province, Rodriguez said that the new facilities will occupy
1,400 hectares.

The program head added that this plan should be accomplished by October 31
using areas previously devoted to sugar cane cultivation. This is part of
the restructuring process under way in the sugar industry on the island.

The increase of organic farms and their future efficient administration
will guarantee a steady rhythm of development by the Urban Agriculture
Program, which in 2004 and 2005 produced more than 4 million tons of
vegetables.

Although there were some precedents, this organization started in December,
1987 on the initiative of General Raul Castro, second secretary of the
Communist Party of Cuba.

Initially, the project consisted of solely the cultivation of vegetables in
gardens and organic farms. However, it was progressively enlarged to where
it now covers 27 sub-programs, which also include the cultivation of fruits
and the breeding of several species of animals.

Today, nearly one million Cubans are linked to the Urban Agriculture
Program; more than 350,000 of them work in orchards and on organic farms,
while about 600,000 grow fruits and other plants, or raise animals in their
backyards for their families' consumption.