Every afternoon, when the sun begins to hide behind black clouds, Enerio Hernández Ojeda looks at the sky and the horizon, its crops, and the small lagoon in which the water accumulates. He gets impatient, begs, calms down, and disappoints when hours pass and the hope that it will rain disappears.
Las Tunas, Cuba.- He knows that in the rainfall, so spaced in time, lies the future of his crops, those that have made him an excellent food producer, both for the residents of the Gayol community; and for Vázquez, Puerto Padre; and the city of Las Tunas.
“That is the first problem we have here, the guarantee of water. And it is something that has affected us forever, although it is true that there is a micro dam and a river. But only lasts for five months, by saving the water. We have been involved in a transfer that is going to be carried out for about four years, but it has not been completed.
“I kneel here in this place,” points out one of the trees near the reservoir, “and I ask God that it rains frequently, although I don't want strong winds or other phenomena that damage the crops.
“The truth is that already in November, at the end of the rainy season, the little dam is full and that is a relief. If it hadn't been for that water, this year we wouldn't have eaten so many tomatoes."
Chachi, as he is called, is a prominent usufructuary who benefits from several irrigation machines to plant different crops, whose productions are destined to the state. That is why he takes advantage of all the spaces on their lands and shortens the times between harvests and sowings because a day wasted is to regret in the effort of Cuban peasants to produce and substitute imports so that people eat.
“We have already started planting corn; there are about 21 hectares that are going well. We have 10 hectares of bananas, 3.5 hectares of cassava, and seven of pumpkin, which will allow us to have a good amount of assortments in August.
“That is counting on the rainy season that has already started. We need that it leaves us some water. And it is a risk that we are taking; but what is truly important is not to sit idly by, but rather to win over the land, with new projects.”
The new measures approved by the country's leadership to boost food production have a favorable impact on this peasant that has so many ideas.
“These are measures that make the Cuban peasantry happy. This motivates people to ask for more land in usufruct, to logging the marabou and raising cattle, to achieve better payment for milk and meat, and also for one day to be able to slaughter a cow.
“The decrease in costs for the use of electricity and water motivates rice farmers. Some, who had left the land, now return to try, to see if it works; and that is important because that grain is needed to feed people.
“In the case of seeds, I am a producer who takes them jealousy. I believe that everyone should have their own seeds. That is why I sow when I want, without depending on anyone else.
“Having water, there will be food here. Don’t doubt about it.”
