cuba

[furrowtickler]

Unfortunately the Cuban govt will crack down hard on any protests before too long. It is not surprising that there is so much anger. When 80 % of food consumed in Cuba is now imported and it is easy to see land that was formerly cropped now overgrown with bush and weeds the communist system is in its glory and the Cuban people bear the brunt of this calamity. Ever since the Soviet Union fell and they quit propping up Castro years ago things have been in a decline. Its said when its not hard to see good uncultivated land that has gone back to jungle.

It called regenetive agricultural practice

[GDR]

Unfortunately the Cuban govt will crack down hard on any protests before too long. It is not surprising that there is so much anger. When 80 % of food consumed in Cuba is now imported and it is easy to see land that was formerly cropped now overgrown with bush and weeds the communist system is in its glory and the Cuban people bear the brunt of this calamity. Ever since the Soviet Union fell and they quit propping up Castro years ago things have been in a decline. Its said when its not hard to see good uncultivated land that has gone back to jungle.

Their big ag problem is their main crop of sugar cane became worthless with Soviet Union demise. Not sure if your 80% imported food is fact or assumption but that would surprise me. I was in the field with guys harvesting sugar cane on a government farm, went for a horse and cart ride with a guy that worked on a government banana farm and visited a private farm that grew Avacados and a few vegetables. Also talked to a fellow that told me about importing Holsteins from Canada and how they didn't produce very well on sugar cane leaves so they transitioned to another breed but couldnt quite understand the name. I really liked talking ag with these guys, they were surprisingly aware of what and how we do things. From the tourist location standpoint, Holguin is the most agriculture area that I've seen. Food seemed better and were told it was because of the local area farms.

Their is a lot of capitalism built into their socialist system if that makes any sense, some legal, lots of under the table business and a big barter system. The most entrepreneurial, hard working guy I've ever met was in Cuba - had 2 cabs, restaurant in his house, sport fishing boat and actually dived to get me fresh lobster before he cooked it for us. Near as I can tell more locals are more supportive of the system than not. I'm sure it will eventually cave to the ways of the rest of the world, but its pretty interesting to see something so different.