Guantanamo.- Guantánamo’s farmers have successfully completed their spring planting season by the end of July, overcoming significant resource shortages to exceed provincial targets. The province had set a goal of planting 17,322 hectares but surpassed this by 11 percent, reaching a total of 19,237 hectares—1,915 hectares beyond the initial plan.
José Francisco Saiz Machado, head of the Agricultural Department at the Provincial Delegation of Agriculture, reported that nearly all municipalities met or exceeded their planting quotas. San Antonio del Sur, however, fell short by 87 hectares and must intensify efforts during August, the final month of the planting season.
Top-performing municipalities included El Salvador, Maisí, and Baracoa, which exceeded their targets by 22, 9, and 7 percent, respectively. The leading crops planted were cassava (3,878 hectares), plantains (approximately 3,000 hectares including renewed areas), and sweet potatoes (1,529 hectares).
Despite ongoing challenges such as limited access to fuel, electricity, fertilizers, and other crucial farming inputs, the dedication and resilience of Guantánamo’s agricultural community have yielded promising results. While improvements are still needed, these achievements underscore the sector’s commitment to revitalizing local agriculture amid difficult conditions.
