The heavy rain Falls in western Cuba in the first six days of June affected 3,941 hectares (ha) of crops, with losses in 1,635 of them, mainly root vegetables, vegetables and grains, according to official sources.
A report prepared by the Food Group of the Ministry of Agriculture (Minag) details that in urban agriculture damage of some kind was reported in 11,868 flowerbeds, and drainage and planting work has already begun with a view to recovery, refers a note published by the official newspaper Granma.
The document reviewed by the media also points out that 444.7 tons of tobacco were also affected, of which 17.5 were lost, as well as 55 nursing homes.
In addition, it specifies that all the damaged tobacco will have treatment and although the quality is affected, it will not be lost as raw material, the publication indicates.
About other important lines, the Minag clarifies that the collection of milk, also hit by rainfall, is now back to normal, as indicated by the stabilization of milking work, while rice continues under detailed review.
In Pinar del Río there are 1,050 ha of mature rice with possible damage to 150 of them, which are being drained and evaluated. Likewise, in Cienfuegos and Ciego de Ávila the harvest is paralyzed, indicates the source.
Cuba: 750 houses and 3,200 hectares of crops damaged by heavy rains
Following the government’s decision to stockpile all the products that can be used for human and animal consumption, starting on the 5th, food began to arrive in Havana for immediate distribution through the network of markets managed by the Food Company. Collection of the territory, affirms Granma.
At the same time, in order to take advantage of the existing moisture in the soil, the Minag decided to develop a short-cycle planting movement in agriculture, in 21,000 hectares ready to be planted at this time, in which the most affected, such as those of sweet potatoes, cassava, cucumbers, squash and corn.
The document reviewed specifies that there is a sufficient inventory of seeds for this task and that just over 2,583 hectares have already been planted. Villa Clara (273), Sancti Spíritus (216), Cienfuegos (148) and Matanzas (171) are the provinces that have advanced the most.
The intense rains at the beginning of June were associated with an area of low pressure and, in addition to the damage to agriculture, affected homes and other infrastructure, as well as the electricity grid. The resulting floods in several Cuban provinces also killed four people, as reported so far.
