El Raúl livestock unit, which belongs to the Integral Agricultural base business unit (UEB) in Manatí, is the only entity that markets buffalo milk and meat for tourism in the municipality; however, its projections are diversified by venturing into the development of biofuels as part of the Bioenergy Project.

Manatí, Las Tunas.- “Previously, buffaloes were milked here to deliver the milk to the state industry. Then, it was decided to leave them for breeding and fattening to market its meat. Today, faced with business transformations, we are diversifying our productions. We are now in the testing phase, with the idea of processing the cheese samples to sell it in freely convertible currency, and thus substitute imports," Luis Osorio Reina, head of the unit, says.

The workers also guarantee their consumption and prepare for raising poultry and other livestock such as pigs and sheep.

“Although our state commission is the buffalo breeding and its commercialization, we must look inward and outward. We must not only export. You have to think about the workforce and its self-consumption. That is why we are inserting in the development of livestock modules. We already have eight pigs, more than 30 heads of sheep, a dozen poultry; and we are thinking of buying rabbit breeders to get into its farming ", Osorio Reina added.

BIOENERGY: A DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY

The Bioenergy Project was presented as an opportunity for the El Raúl livestock unit, which today uses some of its buildings to create a biodiesel plant and a seed certification laboratory. With this technology, they will evaluate the quality of the seeds of the Jatropha curcas plants (Barbados nut), since biofuel is extracted from these. Likewise, they will certify other seeds to guarantee better crops in the territory.

“The seed laboratory is in the execution phase and the plant will be established in one of our warehouses. It is evident that this project represents an advance in the fundamental activities of the center and we are going to benefit with resources, such as a new tractor with all the necessary implements."

Without neglecting attention to its mainline, which is the raising of buffalo and guaranteeing it some 22 hectares of animal feed, the workers of "El Raúl" are open to development by projecting as pioneers in the production of biodiesel, promoting new productions, and thinking differently to achieve efficiency as a state-owned company.