History, Education, Planning, and Unconditional Adaptation: Organic Reform in Cuba

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History, Education, Planning, and Unconditional
AdaptationOrganic Reform in Cuba

• We must convert farming into one of the most
  honored, promoted and appreciated professions
• -Fidel Castro
• (1991)

2
Brief History

• 650,000 African Slaves helped create a sugar
  island
• Slavery independence from Spain in the late 1800s
• US continued to dominate with land control, and
  one army base
• 50s US backed Batista rule
• 8 controlled 70 of land
• US controlled 40 of Sugar
• 24 Illiterate

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59Revolution

• Cuban historically are flexible to adaptation
  through willingness to change.
• Revolution Education crusade, land reform, urban
  rural migration.
• Sugar still primary crop due to remaining
  abundance of corn production
• Labor demand 2 week Stipends

4
Soviet Dependency and Fidelism

• Sugar was Sometimes worth 5 x market amount to
  the soviets direct exchange for oil
• Decisions depended on state enterprises, workers
  unions, the public and the Communist party.
• Democratic Centralism vs. Bureaucratic centralism
• 1980s 88 import dependent on fuel, machinery,
  chemicals, etc..
• Most mechanized Agriculture system in Latin
  America

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89 Soviet Bloc Collapse

• Lost 80 of imports
• 89-92 oil dropped 133mil. tons to 1.8
• Petroleum fertilizers dropped 1.3 tons to ,25
• Factories abandoned, transit shut down, machines
  could not be repaired,
• Medicine and food crisis over night
• We will achieve miracles with intelligence and
  sweat. Scientists will create resources that
  will one day be more valuable than sugar cane
  they are developing bacteria that catches
  Nitrogen from the air. Already many crops are
  produced with azotobacter next year we will
  produce 8, 10, 15 million. Whatever is
  necessary. A brewers yeast factory could be
  converted into an azotobacter factory.
• -Fidel Castro 1991

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Reactions

• Mas Canosa
• US strengthened embargo with Cuban Democracy Act
  and Torricelli Bill
• Cuba rationed resources,
• Distribution of seeds and knowledge
• Victory gardens
• Urban rural migration
• 1/3 hectare free
• State run coops
• Animal tillage (reverted to the old) Bio
  fertilizers, bio pest control, diversity

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Integrated pest management

• Began insect pathogen research in thirties,
  excelled more in late 70s and 80s
• gt200 factories for insect pathogens in early 90s
• Diverse crop rotation, antagonist fungi
• Integration of crop and livestock
• Biological pesticide
• Bio technology

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The New Period of Time and Peace

• 93- All but 33 of state coops went public
• Basic Units of Cooperative Production (UBPC)
• 33still state run(military, schools)
• Democratic centralism More power for workers,
  diversified markets, decentralized government
• Farmers began to make more , food pricey
• Small fruits and veggie stands increased, more
  neighborly benefits

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Urban Ag

• Urban Ag. Provides 90 of Havanas produce (2.5
  million people)
• Urban plots can be from 3 meters to 7 hectares in
  lots, patios, and roofs.
• Organic practice is required by law inner-city
• Community groups horticulture clubs receive
  land and other benefits for donating 10 of food
  to the public
• Diverse markets, dollar stores, generic stores,
  free markets
• Free education, schools and businesses w/
  gardens, Media Education
• Masters degree in Eco Ag at the Agrarian
  University of Havana

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Soil

• Mapping system to monitor and control
  sustainability
• (Low tillage) Wedge tilling with animals
• Soil amendments
• Bio fertilizers, Worm castings

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Today

• Tourism outweighs sugar
• 2001 first export of OG sugar
• Exports of bio agriculture products
• Cuba has 2 of Latin American population and 11
  of scientists
• Rice, potatoes and sugar still often depend on
  conventional Ag.
• Preparation and massive motivation w/ increased
  industrialization, and allowance for public
  control of agro-economy, beat this crisis.

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• How Can countries Prepare themselves for food
  crisis?
• How can other countries support more sustainable
  aid?
• According to the Cuban example, during a food
  crisis, education, tools, infrastructure,
  science, and community responsibility outweigh
• donation of cheap foreign food products which
  supply only temporary solutions and typically
  support greater dependencies for the third world
  on first world enterprises.