New development opportunities are on the horizon in the north of the province of Las Tunas with the implementation of the international collaboration project “Support for renewable energy sources in the decentralization processes in the municipality of Jesús Menéndez.”
The program has the methodological and financial support of the Cuban non-governmental organization for renewable energy sources promotion, Cubasolar, the Spanish non-governmental organization Sodepaz, and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation.
Doctor of Science Aramís Rivas Diéguez, a member of the project's board of directors, reported that a map of agro-industrial processes of territorial interest was initially drawn up. It covers six of them and responds to several public policies of the Municipal Development Strategy.
She said that imports of renewable energy source technologies are expected to begin; some 229,000 dollars will be spent this year to support the local agro-industry for Creole fodder and goat's milk derivatives production.
He added that the technologies envisaged include photovoltaic irrigation equipment and watering systems, solar dryers for plants and grains, and two energy backup systems that can provide energy to the National Power Grid.
Rivas Diéguez pointed out that the project aims to rescue and take advantage of the feed factory linked to the municipality's pig farms, which is not being used more efficiently because the technology is obsolete and does not meet the demand.
He added that the industrial solar dryers would favor the dehydration of cassava, grains, and protein plants to produce Creole fodder. The initial plan is to grow feed for pig fattening with 12 percent protein.
Although this will be the leading product, projections indicate that, with a technological change and the incorporation of new personnel, the feed plant could take on other lines and purposes for animal feed for different species such as pigs, poultry, rabbits, and sheep and goats.
The international collaboration project will be linked to other ongoing initiatives and aims to promote the production of various products on El Esfuerzo and El Placer farms, in addition to the Creole feed and goat's milk derivatives.
