The social role of Las Tunas farmers in various settings, especially food production, was the focus of the discussions at the Assembly of the 13th Congress of the National Association of Small Farmers (ANAP), under the motto "Strengthened, United, and Productive."
Las Tunas, Cuba.- At the meeting, chaired by members of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, Félix Duarte Ortega, National President of ANAP, and Jorge Luis Tapia Fonseca, Deputy Prime Minister, delegates and invitees analyzed the functioning of the organization during the last five years.
They evaluated the incorporation of new members, the strengthening of the cooperatives' boards of directors, and the quality of the monthly assemblies, besides indicators related to agriculture, sugarcane development, and livestock, the main activities of this sector.
Several opinions were given, with concrete examples of experiences being developed in the 42 agricultural production (CPA) and 118 credit and services cooperatives (CCS) to diversify crops and livestock and increase overall and members' income.
Hihglighted the efforts of the Julio Antonio Mella CCS in the main municipality, which produces between 30,000 and 40,000 raspaduras (scraped cereals) per day, along with molasses and other lines; and the Sabino Pupo CCS, in Amancio, which repaired eight kilometers of 
roads to improve the quality of life for farmers, also stood out.
Reydenis González Céspedes of the Calixto Sarduy CPA pointed out that “Livestock farming will only prosper if the water and feed required by the herds are guaranteed.” He added that the unit has sugarcane, king grass, and pangola for critical times.
González noted that demand among Las Tunas producers for Ecomic is very low. However, he added, it is widely sold to producers in other provinces. The biofertilizer manufactured by the cooperative has proven to be effective on various crops, even in very poor soils.
Antonia Escalona Alba, president of the Sabino Pupo CPA, noted that sugarcane harvesting has not taken place for about four years; 
however, they have sought alternatives to guarantee workers' wages through a guarapera (facility for the manufacture and sale of sugarcane juice) and the sale of coconut candy. They also remove invasive plants that grow in the sugarcane fields and make charcoal.
In her speech, PhD Raquel Ruz Reyes, from the University of Las Tunas, said that without science and innovation, efficiency will not be achieved, and the region requires practical actions to improve the soil and introduce new varieties of beans, soybeans, and other crops.
Deputy PM Tapia Fonseca urged improving relations between companies and cooperatives to resolve many difficulties and emphasized that they should receive more attention, as they are the country's main productive link, providing more than 80 percent of meat, milk, and other products.
According to Duarte Ortega, cooperatives must function well to achieve better results, diversify production, and involve residents of rural settlements in improving infrastructure and planting various crops.
The participants, representing more than 20,200 local cooperative members, elected delegates to the 13th Congress to be held in May and ratified Roberto Medrano Ledesma as president of the ANAP Provincial Committee.
