Rustic crops in Matanzas, a bet for food sovereignty.

According to experts, although banana planting was overfulfilled with respect to the plan, more than 5,000 hectares should be planted in the coming months to meet demand by August 2025.

At the end of December, more than 17 thousand hectares corresponding to the cold season of the Cuban agricultural system were planted in the province of Matanzas.

Of this figure, the so-called rustic crops such as plantain, cassava, sweet potato and malanga have a great weight, which is a priority for the territory and therefore requires greater intentionality in their contracting.

According to data provided by the Provincial Delegation of Agriculture, the municipalities of Matanzas, Cárdenas and Martí were the furthest behind in the growth of rustic crops.

According to experts, although banana planting was overfulfilled with respect to the plan, more than 5,000 hectares should be planted in the coming months to meet demand by August 2025.

Likewise, the promotion of the so-called extra-dense plantain continues with more than 500 hectares due to its advantages such as intensive use of the soil, high plantation density, use of the irrigation system and stability in production.

In the case of cassava, the current demand exceeds 11,000 hectares to be planted, a figure that is expected to be met in the second half of this year. While sweet potato has the largest backlog.

In 2024, 148,234 tons of viands, grains, vegetables, fruits and vegetables were sold in the retail network.

Written by Yunielys Moliner Isasi.