Cuba continues to rely heavily on fresh produce imports due to state policies that restrict local production and limit farmer autonomy. Imported oranges from Chile, garlic and onions from China, and potatoes from the United States are now appearing in Cuban markets, while domestic output remains stagnant. Farmers and cooperatives are unable to decide freely what to plant or sell, as land remains under state control and the collection system dictates prices and marketing channels.
Engineer Yulieta Hernández highlighted these issues in a social media post after observing imported potatoes, garlic, and onions on sale in Havana at prices beyond the reach of many consumers. She noted that beyond cost, the dependence on foreign products underscores the absence of policies that promote local production. According to Hernández, outdated machinery, fuel scarcity, limited fertilizer and seed availability, poor irrigation infrastructure, and lack of financing continue to prevent agricultural recovery. She added that private innovation is penalized, and independent producer associations are criminalized.
Among her proposals, Hernández called for granting land ownership to farmers, removing the Acopio monopoly, allowing direct sales between producers and consumers, and legalizing private cooperatives. She also emphasized the need for access to inputs and technology, digital platforms for traceability and marketing, and greater opportunities for youth participation in agriculture.
Another social media user, Manuel Viera, drew attention to the collapse of Cuba's citrus sector, once an exporter to Europe and Asia. He pointed to the presence of Chilean oranges sold in Havana at 390 pesos each, describing it as a stark contrast to the country's past, when oranges were widely available domestically and exported abroad. Viera noted that many Cuban children are seeing products such as oranges for the first time, reflecting the erosion of long-standing production capacity.
The testimonies of Hernández and Viera underscore that Cuba's agricultural crisis is not only economic but also structural and political. Imports fill the supply gap but do not address the underlying dependency. Despite the approval of a Food Sovereignty Law, official data in the Cuba Statistical Yearbook 2023 confirm a sharp decline in key food crops, including rice, root vegetables, and citrus. Analysts and farmers agree that reforms involving land distribution, elimination of monopolies, legalization of independent cooperatives, and investment in technology and infrastructure are required if Cuba is to restore fresh produce self-sufficiency.
Source: CiberCuba