Guantánamo – Some 8,456 hectares of land were planted in the Guantanamo Province during the spring season that began on March 1st and runs until August 31st.
According to Céspedes Lobaina Árias, subdelegate of Various Crops in the territorial delegation of Agriculture, with the platoon of machines, 604.4 hectares were plowed, of 2,467.7 in preparation and 341.5 are ready.
The manager stressed that they boost the planting of sweet potato, cassava, banana, corn, pepper, cucumber, pumpkin and melon, in addition to, they are promoting urban and suburban agriculture in patios and plots to achieve a higher yields of local self-sufficiency and improve the average per capita consumption of 41.5 pounds per person, which was a record at the end of April.
Based on the limitations with inputs – he said – the six entomophagous and entomopathogen centers work to control pests and diseases in six production lines.
Lobaina Árias also insisted on the protection of more than 50 percent of agricultural production with biological means and control alternatives such as green manures, vermiculture and compost.
When pointing out the results of the previous cold campaign, he recognized the completion of 17 physical productions and the planting of 21 thousand hectares of land, being the largest campaign in the last 10 years.
He also highlighted that both managers and workers of the movement are committed to promoting the multiple subprograms, continuing with the diversification and intercropping of crops, making better use of the available land and promoting rabbit, sheep-goat and poultry breeding.
He also urged the responsibility of farmers to contribute to feeding the people, a fact that requires better use of animal traction and the efficient use of biological means in prevention.
Lastly, he stated that the success of the current spring campaign depends not only on the weather conditions and the availability of resources, but also on the work capacity of the farmers, one of the strengths of the eastern province.
Translated by Liubis Balart
