CubaCuba’’s Organic s Organic AgricultureAgriculture

Presented By: Emma Bassein and Presented By: Emma Bassein and Nathan DouglassNathan Douglass

April 4, 2005April 4, 2005

Source:http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/gallery/2003021Source:http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/gallery/2003021--0121/Cuba.A2003021.1600.500m.jpg0121/Cuba.A2003021.1600.500m.jpg

Presentation OverviewPresentation Overview

Cuban Revolution and U.S. EmbargoCuban Revolution and U.S. EmbargoEconomic Collapse 1989Economic Collapse 1989--9191Transition to Alternative AgricultureTransition to Alternative AgricultureHighlights of CubaHighlights of Cuba’’s Organic Agricultures Organic AgricultureFuture of Cuban Future of Cuban Potential for World UsePotential for World Use

Brief HistoryBrief History

Typical Latin American Typical Latin American MonocropMonocropProductionProductionEconomic DependenceEconomic DependenceCuban Revolution shifted dependenceCuban Revolution shifted dependence85% of trade with socialist bloc (70% of 85% of trade with socialist bloc (70% of total with Soviet Union)total with Soviet Union)

PrePre--Soviet Collapse CharacteristicsSoviet Collapse Characteristics

Favorable trade led to rapid modernization Favorable trade led to rapid modernization and mechanizationand mechanizationHeavy import dependence on agricultural Heavy import dependence on agricultural supplies (fertilizer, pesticide, hybrid seeds, supplies (fertilizer, pesticide, hybrid seeds, machines, petroleum) and foodstuffsmachines, petroleum) and foodstuffsExport of raw commodities and mineralsExport of raw commodities and minerals

Economic ContradictionsEconomic Contradictions

Relative ModernizationsRelative Modernizations

Function as supplier of raw agricultural Function as supplier of raw agricultural commodities and mineralscommodities and minerals

Agricultural Characteristics: 1980sAgricultural Characteristics: 1980s

State control of most cultivated landState control of most cultivated land

HighHigh--input (agrochemicals, irrigation, input (agrochemicals, irrigation, mechanization)mechanization)

More tractors per hectare than CaliforniaMore tractors per hectare than California

Peasant workers produced 40% of domestic Peasant workers produced 40% of domestic food with only 20% of landfood with only 20% of land

Soviet Collapse and CrisisSoviet Collapse and Crisis

53% reduction in oil imports53% reduction in oil importsImports of wheat/grain dropped >50%Imports of wheat/grain dropped >50%Drop >80% in availability of Drop >80% in availability of fertilizers/pesticidesfertilizers/pesticidesAlmost 50% decrease in sugar exports Almost 50% decrease in sugar exports from 3.8 million tons to 2 million tonsfrom 3.8 million tons to 2 million tons–– Soviet price in 1991 = $0.36/poundSoviet price in 1991 = $0.36/pound–– Price in 1992 = $0.09/poundPrice in 1992 = $0.09/pound

Social ImplicationsSocial Implications

Caloric intake per capita dropped from 3,000 to 1,900Caloric intake per capita dropped from 3,000 to 1,900Wide spread disease due to vitamin deficienciesWide spread disease due to vitamin deficienciesSugar production decreased by half, 73% decrease in Sugar production decreased by half, 73% decrease in sugar revenues from the Soviet Union between 1991 and sugar revenues from the Soviet Union between 1991 and 19921992Global Social Product (GSP) declined by 6.3% from Global Social Product (GSP) declined by 6.3% from 19861986--1989 (as compared to a 41.6% increase from 1989 (as compared to a 41.6% increase from 19801980--1985)1985)

Expected Outcome:Expected Outcome:

Collapse of the Regime!!Collapse of the Regime!!

Actual Outcome:Actual Outcome:

Transition to subsistence farmingTransition to subsistence farming–– Organic Agriculture Organic Agriculture –– Peasant CollectivesPeasant Collectives–– Urban GardensUrban Gardens–– DeDe--mechanizationmechanization

Image of farmer plowing field removed for copyright reasons.

Source: Source: http://www.pfi.iastate.edu/Cuba/Cuba%20Ag%http://www.pfi.iastate.edu/Cuba/Cuba%20Ag%20Independence.htm20Independence.htm

The RecoveryThe Recovery

Agricultural change began as early as Agricultural change began as early as 19921992Domestic food production tripled between Domestic food production tripled between 1995 and 19981995 and 1998In 2004 300,000 tons of food was In 2004 300,000 tons of food was produced in Havana alone produced in Havana alone ––enough to enough to supply vegetables to the entire city, as supply vegetables to the entire city, as well as some meat and grainswell as some meat and grains

TechniquesTechniques

Crop Rotation, Crop Rotation, nitrogen fixationnitrogen fixation

Reduce MonocultureReduce Monoculture

Helpful Bacteria and Helpful Bacteria and FungiFungi

Natural predators for Natural predators for insects

Image of crops removed for copyright reasons.

Source: www.cityfarmer.org/

insects

Social Changes Related to FoodSocial Changes Related to Food

Reorganization of workers and migration Reorganization of workers and migration to the country side (reto the country side (re--peasantizationpeasantization))

Education geared towards sustainable Education geared towards sustainable farming and Oxen Carefarming and Oxen Care

The Right Livelihood AwardThe Right Livelihood Award““The Alternative Nobel PrizeThe Alternative Nobel Prize””

Awarded to El Awarded to El GrupoGrupo de de AgriculturaAgriculturaOrganicaOrganica de Cubade Cuba

"...For showing that organic agriculture is a "...For showing that organic agriculture is a key to both environmental sustainability key to both environmental sustainability and food security" and food security"

Image of “The Right Livelihood Award” removed for copyright reasons.

The Future and ApplicationsThe Future and Applications

Not competitive with commercial Not competitive with commercial agriculture by todayagriculture by today’’s standardss standards

Applicable to rural agricultural Applicable to rural agricultural communities in developing regionscommunities in developing regions

SourcesSources

Gonzalez, David; Gonzalez, David; CubaCuba’’s Bittersweet Move to Trim its Sugar Crops Bittersweet Move to Trim its Sugar Crop. The New York Times, October 9, . The New York Times, October 9, 20022002

Horowitz, Irving L. Horowitz, Irving L. Cuban Communism 1959Cuban Communism 1959--1995, 81995, 8thth edition.edition. Transaction Publishers, New Transaction Publishers, New Brunswick, NJ (1995).Brunswick, NJ (1995).

McKibbenMcKibben, Bill; , Bill; The Cuba Diet: What will you be eating when the revolution comesThe Cuba Diet: What will you be eating when the revolution comes?? HarperHarper’’s s MagazineMagazine, April 2005. Pages 61, April 2005. Pages 61--69.69.

MesaMesa--LagoLago, , CarmeloCarmelo; ; Cuba After the Cold War.Cuba After the Cold War. University of Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh, PA (1993).University of Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh, PA (1993).

RossetRosset, Peter; , Peter; Alternative Agriculture and Crisis in Cuba.Alternative Agriculture and Crisis in Cuba. IEEE Technology and Society MagazineIEEE Technology and Society Magazine, , Summer 1997.Summer 1997.

The Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy; The Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy; Cuba in Transition, Cuba in Transition, Volumes 2 and 3. Volumes 2 and 3. Washington D.C. (1992 and 1993).Washington D.C. (1992 and 1993).

The Economist Intelligence Unit; The Economist Intelligence Unit; Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Puerto Rico Country Report: , Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Puerto Rico Country Report: 19891989--92.92. London.London.

The Right Livelihood Award, http://The Right Livelihood Award, http://www.rightlivelihood.org/index.htmwww.rightlivelihood.org/index.htm