MIAMI, United States. — The province of Granma, in eastern Cuba, has launched a commitment to the so-called agroecological potato with the aim of promoting its cultivation with good yields.
the official journal The Demajagua He pointed out that this territory began in the production of agroecological potatoes with five hectares that have been planted “experimentally.”
Alcides Aguilar Carrazana, agricultural sub-delegate in the provincial Delegation, told the state media that the cultivation of the product was carried out in areas located in Bayamo, Yara and Bartolomé Masó, and that for the selection of advanced producers, plantings were established on land with irrigation system between last December and January.
The official added that organic matter was used for the soils as part of the agroecological procedure, without chemicals, so as not to “falsify” the results of the experience, which should provide around 12 tons per hectare.
La Demajagua points out that four of the five hectares of agroecological potatoes were planted by farmers Yordanis Castillo Almaguer and Rafael Díaz Sánchez, associated with the Credit and Services Cooperative (CCS) Lorenzo Rodríguez Véliz, and Luis Alberto López Chávez, from CCS VIII Congress, at the Santa Rita farm. The remaining hectare was cultivated by the Agricultural Business Unit, belonging to the Bartolomé Masó Agroforestry.
According to Aguilar Carrazana, the physiological development of the plantations after 45 days “has been favourable”, although a tour of the plantations is still pending to arrive at more precise results.
In Cuba, the planting of agroecological potatoes has previously been extensive in provinces such as Pinar del Río.
It should be noted that cultivation with agroecological methods is not recommended in large areas, since it requires manual care and constant monitoring. In this sense, it is considered a crop of small plots, where all attention can be done at the right time.
