Sao Paulo/The impact of the fuel crisis in Cuba is already being felt in its agricultural sector and the effect is “serious,” the regional representative of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, René Orellana, warned in an interview with EFE.
The head of the FAO for Latin America and the Caribbean affirmed that the lack of fuel, caused by the actions of the Government of US President Donald Trump, “is limiting” the use of machinery by farmers to carry out the harvest.
“Several crops are at risk of not being harvested properly,” he warned. As a consequence of this situation, Orellana assured that the population of the Island “will not be able to access these foods.”
“Several crops are at risk of not being harvested properly”
In this context, the FAO and other UN organizations are promoting a transition to renewable energy sources to reduce “dependency” on hydrocarbons, explained the head of the agency.
Among the options promoted are the installation of new irrigation systems, as well as small-scale photovoltaic and hydroelectric plants.
“They are accessible energy sources that must be worked on to support small family production,” said Orellana.
Since US President Donald Trump imposed a blockade on the shipment of oil to Cuba, extreme rationing measures in fuel use have restricted the transportation of agricultural products to markets.
