CAMAGÜEY.- After reaching a historical production record in 2008 with 100 thousand tons of humid paddy rice, the Grain Agribusiness Complex Invading Route (CAGRI, Spanish Acronym) in Camaguey faces an abrupt decrease in its production volumes, as a result of the lack of inputs for the harvest of the grain.

The import limitations of the technological package, due to the escalation of the American blockade against Cuba and the consequent negative impact on the Cuban economy, caused that the 90 407,3 tons initially planned for 2019 had to be adjusted to the pledge of a little over 52 thousand tons.

Jimmi Camejo Martín, CAGRI deputy director, decladed to Adelante Digital, that the rice producers in Camaguey have searched for some alternatives to the input shortages and today are using some biological products such as Metarhizium (fungus that attacks insects) and the Fitomag, among others. That made possible to fulfill the 9 thousand hectares (ha) harvest in the cold campaign, not the case of the spring that only managed to plant a little over 6 thousand ha.

The main destinations of the desired cereal harvested in the demarcation are the basic food basket, the production and service institutions and tourism. Camejo Martín reaffirmed the commitment of the CAGRI staff of continuing the pursue of alternatives and to fulfill the current assignments.

The Grain Agribusiness Complex Invading Route in Camaguey, acknowledged by its high performance and production as the second greatest rice producer in Cuba, after its colleague in Granma, is working in diversifying the productions. An example is the increase in the charcoal exports, currently with over 3400 tons already commercialized in the foreign market.

Translated by Elianna Diaz Mendieta