[Source](https://pixabay.com/es/photos/tomates-enredaderas-gotas-de-agua-1561565/)
Hello, friends. Today, I wanna talk to you about something that's been bugging me big time, and it ain't just Cuba's problem, but a worldwide deal: the agricultural sector. This sector is like super important for any country's economy 'cause it gives us the food we need to survive, plus it's a big player in creating jobs and helping out rural areas. But in Cuba, and in lots of other places, it's taken a real hit because of some government mismanagement.
Cuba's situation is kind of concerning, thanks to the long-lasting communist ideology that's been running the show. The commie government keeps pushing this idea that all their internal problems are someone else's fault, instead of owning up to their own screw-ups and bad decision-making.
Sure, on the global stage, food prices have gone up in recent years due to stuff like climate change, market speculations, and fluctuating production. But what's going down in Cuba is just plain unacceptable. A pound of beans was around 60 Cuban pesos just a year ago, and now it's way above 500 Cuban pesos, which is like 2 USD. That's a crazy jump that's seriously hitting the Cuban folks who are already dealing with a boatload of economic issues.
One of the big issues facing Cuban agriculture is the lack of investment. Worldwide, the costs of farming stuff have gone up, making it pricier to produce food. But instead of upping the investment in farming to improve productivity and efficiency, the Cuban government has majorly cut back on resources for the sector.
A Cuban economist named Pedro Monreal has pointed out that in 2014, the agricultural sector represented 8.1% of Cuba's gross domestic product (GDP), which was already insufficient to meet the needs of the population. But today, this figure has decreased considerably and only represents 2.6% of GDP. This reflects the lack of interest and priority given by the government to agricultural production in the country.
Rather than boosting and encouraging farming, the Cuban government's been pouring their efforts into building hotels, many of which are sitting pretty much empty. This lopsided investment in the tourism sector just doesn't make sense, especially when the industry and agriculture in Cuba are struggling big time to meet the basic needs of the population.
One major solution to improve the Cuban ag scene is to invest in technology and modernize agriculture. Tech can amp up food production's productivity and efficiency, which can, in turn, cut costs and make food more accessible for the people. Industrializing farming can also help with large-scale production and better distribution of ag products.
But without the right investment in the agricultural sector, these improvements won't happen. It's crucial for the Cuban government to prioritize farming and put the necessary resources into it. The lack of investment doesn't just hurt food production, it also limits the ability to create jobs in rural areas and improve the lives of farmers.
As long as this isn't fixed, the supply's never gonna be enough, 'cause the demand will keep being higher. Farmers not being able to access input markets, whether retail or wholesale, is another problem they're facing.
Cuba's agricultural sector is facing some major challenges because of the lack of investment, the government not giving it enough priority, and the lack of access to technology and training. To make things better in Cuban agriculture, the government seriously needs to rethink its priorities and put the resources into this sector. Investment is a key element to boost productivity and efficiency in food production. It's also important to tackle structural challenges and promote sustainable farming. At least in the short and medium term, there doesn't seem to be a solution in sight.
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Original Spanish text: Translated and formatted with Hive Translator by @noakmilo.
Twitter @bluisdey