From stage to furrow: The story of Bárbara Yusleidys at the Paraíso estate.

With her hands marked by the land and her eyes set on the future, Bárbara Yusleidys Cordero Sierra has transformed five hectares of marabú into a thriving crop of extra-dense plantain. Her story is an example of female empowerment, resilience and love for the Cuban countryside.

With her hands marked by the land and her eyes set on the future, Bárbara Yusleidys Cordero Sierra has transformed five hectares of marabú into a thriving crop of extra-dense plantain. Her story is an example of female empowerment, resilience and love for the Cuban countryside.

At the Paraíso farm, located in urban areas of the Máximo Gómez Báez enterprise, the change is amazing, where before there were only weeds and marabú, today more than three hectares of plantain are growing in production and two more are in the process of being planted.

«When I arrived here, this was pure bush,» recalls Bárbara. «I had to clear six hectares by hand, install irrigation and learn as I went along. But every drop of sweat was worth it.»

The most inspiring thing is that Barbara does not come from the countryside, she is an art instructor, graduated in Theater, and one day she decided to change the boards for the grooves.»Many people told me I was crazy, that the field was not for women. Today I show them the results,» she says proudly.

«Here there are no limits for women -she says. If you want to, you can. She manages irrigation systems, calculates yields and dreams big, proving that the field is also the territory of strong women.

Written by Tunielys Moliner Isasi.