In the municipality of Jobabo, located in the southern region of Las Tunas, food production is prioritized, together with local development, because of how much it represents to raise the standard of living of the population of the territory, the province, and the country.

Jobabo, Las Tunas.- In those terms, Blanca Iris Santana Ravelo, first secretary of the Municipal Committee of the Cuban Communist Party (PCC), explained that there are several purposes, both for territorial development initiatives and collaboration projects because they are inserted in PADIT (Platform Articulated Comprehensive Territorial Development).

“One of these programs responds to the promotion of small livestock, in three farms that are going to be linked to a mini-meat and milk processing industry. This will make it possible to obtain cheese and other derivatives, which will add value to those items for sale to the population and will help to earn foreign currency to finance certain productions.”

“Besides, we are focused on the possibility of developing rice, taking into account the country's needs and experience, since there has already been production here. Soils and water availability for the Zabalo area are now being studied.

“The idea is to try to recover this crop in the short, medium, and long term. One of the usufructuaries in the area is already producing rice, with good yields.”

The political leader stressed that guaranteeing food for all the inhabitants is not an easy thing; However, work is being done on the balance of the areas to obtain the 30 pounds per capita established in the municipal self-sufficiency program.

For this reason - she added - areas with guaranteed water for irrigation are being chosen, which would lead to higher levels of production, especially of various crops, with an emphasis on the chunky banana. She said that, in the area of Pozo Salado, there is good land and a very committed producer.

Santana Ravelo also mentioned the mini-industry for fruits and vegetable processing that is being built in this southern city and the alternatives that are being analyzed to increase fish production in small reservoirs of the territory.

“We are looking for productive chains and we are immersed in the increase of the areas destined to the sowing of fruit trees; the factory will be able to start up soon, so we need to support its capacity with more agricultural production.

“About fish, we have created the infrastructure and we could be using it in the rearing of fingerlings for its generalization, later, in the productive forms with water mirrors. Then the cycle would be closed with a mini-processing industry that would allow the finished productions to be brought to the population.”

Jobabo has the potential to continue growing in food production based on local development projects, its scientific and technological innovation potential; and, along this route, progress is being made so that the municipality returns to the excellence that it has always had in the activity.