Cuba’s Concert in the Park Breathes Fresh Air on Peace

admin — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 20:38:32 +0000

Cuba's 2009 Concert for Peace

Over 1 million people decended into central Havanna, this weekend for the largest open-air concert since the 1959 revolution to send a message of “peace without boarders”. The concert held in Revolution Square featured some of Latin America’s best known stars. The concert was organized by Colombian singer Juanes. I don’t know about you but when 1 million people get together, it sends a very clear message. In the end, maybe there will be a fresh new perspective will sail in and bring people back together.

Cuban rice, bean output up sharply through July

admin — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 05:24:05 +0000

Published on Saturday, September 5, 2009

HAVANA, Cuba (Reuters) — Cuban rice and bean production increased significantly in the first seven months of the year as government efforts to boost output and reduce imports of both commodities appeared to be bearing fruit.Rice production was up 15.4 percent to 98,000 tonnes and rice lands planted increased 43.8 percent, while beans jumped 26.4 percent to 45,000 tonnes, the National Statistics office reported on its web page (here) this week.

A Cuban salesman weighs rice in a shop in Havana. AFP PHOTO

The cash-strapped Cuban government has embarked on a program to cut import costs by increasing the island’s food production and hopes to slash rice and bean imports, staples of the Cuban diet, by 50 percent by 2013.

President Raul Castro, who took over for his older brother Fidel Castro in February 2008, has increased what the state pays for crops, decentralized agricultural decision-making and leased vacant state lands to farmers and individuals.

Cuba produced 195,000 tonnes of consumable rice in all of 2008 and imported 567,000 tonnes, most of it from Vietnam’s state-run Northern Food Corp under preferential financial terms.

The communist-run Caribbean island produced 97,000 tonnes of beans last year and imported from various countries 246,000 tonnes of dried beans, according to government statistics.

Cuba spent $2.2 billion last year to buy food, including $700 million for rice and beans combined. It imports about 70 percent of its food.

Most land in Cuba remains in state hands, but private farmers and cooperatives own some 20 percent.

The state controls the wholesale purchase and retail distribution of between 80 percent and 90 percent of all that is produced.

SUSTAINABLE CARIBBEAN » Cuba

Cuba’s Concert in the Park Breathes Fresh Air on Peace

Cuban rice, bean output up sharply through July