Havana Cuba. – The 2022-2023 harvest will only produce 455,198 tons of sugar, a figure lower than the 462,968 tons achieved in 1855, in the middle of the 19th century.
The downward trend will increase the difficulties even to satisfy the quota of Cubans, as well as the production of alcohol, rum and other derivatives. Committed export to China will not be honored either.
In mid-November, 23 sugar mills will gradually begin to incorporate to grind 6,574,000 tons of cane, as announced at a meeting between the ruler Miguel Díaz-Canel and the directors of the 13 territories involved, at the end of August. To justify the unstoppable reduction in the harvest, the search for efficiency was once again adduced. This campaign will be lower than the one concluded in May, with 480,000 tons milled by 36 mills.
With scientific entelechy ineptitude is wrapped. According to Julio Andrés García Pérez, president of Grupo Empresarial Azucarero AZCUBA, it is about planning the harvest so that it is objective, flexible and, although small, with good practices, concentrating resources in fewer plants. The plan will be based on a new business model, where planning is financial and prioritizes the circular economy, as well as the science and innovation model.
However, while the Government lacks liquidity, the reduction in exports collapses the financing for the traditional repairs of the plants, once the harvest is over.
The government has upheld Raúl Castro’s intention of saving the sugar industry, without acknowledging that it was Fidel Castro who caused the current disaster, by ordering the dismantling of the 156 existing mills and their cane fields. It was the “Commander in Chief” who left the 57 current sugar factories, of which 38 have tried to carry out harvests in recent years, with continuous stoppages due to breakages, lack of cane, technical personnel and labor force in general.
So, in order to make the harvest progress, albeit barely, the 93 measures recommended by the Temporary Work Group made up of 18 scientists and experts from universities, institutes and entities of AZCUBA and other organizations are used. To what extent the opinions of sugar cane growers and mill workers are taken into account is not mentioned. According to Díaz-Canel, the comprehensive strategy requires a change in mentality and the training of the leaders of the sector.
Sugar production forged Cuban identity and society. Sugar bled African slaves, supported macheteros and mill workers, and enriched landowners. Cuba was the largest producer and exporter in the world. There were times of fat cows and lean cows, depending on world prices and demand.
Later came the so-called Revolution which, by appropriating agribusiness, also began its extinction. Fidel Castro ordered in 1970 the Zafra of the Ten Million with investments to expand power plants and cane fields, and the closure of schools, universities and work centers so that all people could participate. “The 10 million go” he sang to himself, but they did not go. In 2002, still clouded by the whims of the political leader, Cubans contributed to the scrapping of the only solid and experienced industry, and made the omen that “without sugar, there is no country” a reality.
OPINION ARTICLE
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