X SCIENTIFIC CONGRESS OF SCIENCE AND TEHNOLOGY X WEEK OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

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1 X SCIENTIFIC CONGRESS OF SCIENCE AND TEHNOLOGY X WEEK OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Santo Domingo, República Dominicana June 7, HISTORICAL SYNTHESIS AND CURRENT NEWS OF URBAN AND SUBURBAN AGRICULTURE IN CUBA. Adolfo Rodríguez Nodals, Dr. Sc., Ph.D. Introduction In 1987, the popularization of an organoponics program began in Cuba. In 1995 this movement was strengthened by the addition of intensive gardening" and was created by the National Commission for Organoponics and Intensive Orchards. In 1997 a national system was organized and named as "Urban Agriculture Movement". Both Animal and Plant Kingdoms Sub-Programs and "Support Sub-Programs" were added, respectively. In 2009 the concept of "Suburban Agriculture" was included and nowadays it refers to a National Program for Urban and Suburban Agriculture consisting of 29 Sub-Programs. The aim of the National Program for Urban and Suburban Agriculture (AU-ASU) is to support local food self-sufficiency, that is: "food production in the neighborhood, by the neighborhood and for the neighborhood." Its purpose is to meet food needs of local population, employ agro-ecological technologies to modify and create a high degree of territorial sustainability for productive inputs, enhance the use of natural resources and farmers training. The producers are trained to enable them to achieve sustainability of even a courtyard. Director General of INIFAT, Havana, Cuba Head of National Program of Urban and Suburban Agriculture of Cuba

2 The true potential of this production system lies on the producers, but in addition it is necessary to establish infrastructure programs in combination with local authorities to incorporate inputs and arrange implement supplies needed for the productive process, that is to say, acquiring a territorial autonomy in relation to materials such as seeds, organic fertilizers, bio-products for pest control, animal feed and other goods. It makes marketing and meeting demands for priority destinations (hospitals, schools, nursing homes) easier, besides processing postharvest surplus, trainings activities etc. The high degree of independence or local sovereignty that AU-ASU has on food production is a key factor for achieving greater food security. The strategy consists of giving support to conventional agriculture, with productions coming from small areas where a high number of producers are engaged, so that the productive process can be operated by themselves with only their own efforts. Individual producers, those organized in cooperatives, as well as producing families in the vicinity can support food demand of the neighborhood. The main achievements and contributions of AU-ASU for the development of sustainable food production at local and regional levels are: Joining activities of different ministries and specialists of different professions around the AU-ASU program, starting from experienced producers. Transformation of inhospitable places in horticultural gardens by growing healthy products that can impact local food culture. Consolidation of a productive platform and designing the way of action. Giving support to food production by employing appropriated technology, never forgetting small producers and enterprises and applying agroecological technologies. Implementing a National Group which represents all state agencies that defend collegiately the program interests and outline projections in food production. Supporting organizations like Farmers Association, peasants, cooperatives, Science and Technology Forum, the Committees for Revolution Defense; Cuban

3 Women Federation, the Cuban Agricultural and Forestry Association, the Cuban Animal Production Association; all these institutions have played a part in the AU- ASU program, together with experienced producers and several cooperation projects (for equipment, buildings, etc.). Providing cooperation and technical assistance outside the country and making training courses for professionals and producers in Cuba while also sharing experiences with producers in order to create the foundations of AU-ASU in their respective countries. Master degree in Urban and Suburban Agriculture and other specialized courses. Extension service and farm advisory system. Agricultural Extension The extension service system, developed over the years to promote the National Urban Agriculture Program, is a consolidated model that uses fast and easy methods and allows taking scientific achievements and advanced experiences to producers from all regions of the country, as well as making required training easier and immediate popularization. This is also being implemented in the Suburban Agriculture from the experience of Urban Agriculture, keeping its characteristics and peculiarities although it is part of the national agricultural extension system in the country. Qualification- All participant institutions at all levels have had the largest participation in training courses with the aim of consolidating and establishing the AU-ASU program. It has allowed the update and training of the producers as the ultimate means to manage the production process, and raise their agricultural, environmental and nourishing areas to significantly higher levels. All training is done there in the groove, in the seedbed, in the animal pens; it means that advanced and reference workplaces of producers outstanding in the territories are selected, then expert are taken to those places in order to give their classes.

4 Production base consolidation and design of their operation. Organization of a productive base for fresh vegetable production founded on agroecological management, under local sustainability concepts and employing properly trained producers, mean people producing in: Organoponics: planting in seedbeds with solid side walls made of local materials; good soil can be used because safety of crops justifies the use of good land. Intensive Orchards: sowing directly in the soil; it is an intensive culture that can reach similar yields to a greenhouse but at low cost, only employing organic matter as nutrient source. Semiprotected organoponics: the same as organoponics, but plants areprotected from extreme sunlight radiation (April-September). Courtyards: strategic mode of development of UA-ASU because it is located just in people s living places, where they have their own dwelling and are able to assist permanently the crops; it also possesses a great potential to generate new ideas and alternatives. Plots: Many of them became farms with Suburban Agriculture rising. Commercialization in the AU-ASU. Producers are organized as a network and take part directly in commercialization that represents a broad range of labors. There is a wide range of retailers located in the productive units distributed throughout the neighborhoods, towns, and cities; they even sell courtyard products though not of their own productions. AU-ASU program is focused in order to provide food to the people and then it would be necessary to create facilities to acquire those services and supplies for carrying out the technological process, which is why it has created a network of units to provide inputs for the producers, which allows:

5 Immediacy between production and commercialization, offering fresher products and reducing intermediaries. Taking agricultural produce closer to consumers in the neighborhoods, allowing higher consumption of fresh food, better nutritional balance, and greater facilities for its acquisition. Avoiding dependence on motorized transportation, preventing environmental pollution. Decentralization of the market by offering locally produced products, reducing competition between large traders and small local producers. Creating new jobs. The marketing network of AU-ASU includes commercialization entities belonging to Municipal Agricultural Farm for the reception of local production, which are then in charge of distribution. Seed production The National Group of UA - ASU looks after a network of Municipal Seed Farms consisting of 143 production units, which provide the planting materials for this agricultural program. The network is also involved in the distribution of new varieties and crops sponsored by research institutions. Financial contribution (import substitution), strategy (food sovereignty) and environment protection (biodiversity) of this activity at long-term is incalculable. At present, 75% of lettuce seeds imports, 50% of radish, and 80% of Chinese chard have been replaced, respectively. Seed production in Urban Agriculture reached 17.6 tons per year. They work on seed production of 22 species and more than 40 varieties and domestically produced seeds of the four aforementioned crops have saved $280,500 USD per year. Agro-ecological management of pests and diseases.- It is performed through biological, cultural and legal control by using bio-insecticides like neem, biological products, color traps, genetic, physical and mechanical control. There are over 200 breeding centers for entomophages and entomopathogenic organisms nationwide to support this operation where several insects, nematodes, fungi and

6 beneficial bacterial species are grown. Seeking for essential independence from outside supplies, developments of this infrastructure enable significant savings for the country in the use of agrochemicals. Measures for mitigation of climate change.- To decrease the country's vulnerability to the negative impacts of climate change, measures have been taken to reduce the environmental impact of production practices and rescue as much as possible the production and agro-ecosystems. Planning process for disaster situations is organized from the AU-ASU National Group up to the productive base, considering: Appropriated area selection to locate units and their productive goals. Use of productive lasting structures, easy dismounting. Crops and varieties in correspondence with the time of the year. Crop management and size control according to the region. Conditions created for manual watering. Organization of integrated pest management, preventive measures and natural medicine. Organization of seed strategic reserve needs of organic fertilizers, media for biological controls, animal feeding, watering containers. Fresh vegetables and condiment productions under exceptional conditions. Strategic priorities of Urban and Suburban Agriculture- Maintain continuous production and the whole productive potential. Accelerate organization and prepare the production base of SUA. Maintain the highest level of guidance and training for the base coordinator teams; this means directing and training the farmers and workers who compose the production base. Priority should be given to: - Management infrastructure and animal traction operation. - Structure of Crops and Animal Breeding in agreement to type of soils, water availability and seasons.

7 - Saving water measures and rainwater collection. - Organic fertilizers and animal feed production. - Pests and diseases agro-ecological management. - Production and preservation of seeds, planting materials and breeding stock. Arrange and consolidate Municipal AgriculturalEnterprices and other entities taking part in the process, also the infrastructure providing support and services to productive base. Collaboration agreements- Collaboration agreements for the development of the Urban and Suburban Agriculture, have been established between the AU-ASU National Group and entities such as the National Association of Small Farmers (ANAP), the Science and Technology Forum, the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR), Basic Units of Cooperative Production (UBPCs), the Cuban Women Federation (FMC), the Cuban Association of Agricultural and Forestry Technicians (ACTAF), the Cuban Association for Animal Production (ACPA) among others. Collaboration and technical assistance for the development of Urban Agriculture have been given to more than 10 countries highlighting Venezuela, Mexico, Colombia, Trinidad and Tobago, some of the Caribbean islands and others. Close relationships with Latin America and the Caribbean countries in themes of construction, management of intensive organic farms and orchards, backyard farming, bio-fertilizers, manure management, seed production, processing and preservation have also been kept. Transference or socialization of Cuban technology is based on four basic premises: Socialization of agro-ecological technologies based on sustainability. Maximizing space utilization for food production. Training activities and technical assistance to producers according to their properties characteristics.

8 Raising self-esteem of producers and make distinctions of their work through recognition at all levels of population and country managers. These premises have led to the internationalization of urban agriculture in Cuba and other countries. Main experiences in Cuba taking into account present opportunities and strengths have agro-ecological characters, such as: Use of organic fertilization. Agro-ecological management of products system. Rational use of water. Using adapted, locally produced, high genetic quality seeds. Development of methodology for monitoring and evaluation. Qualification in situ and ex situ. Cuba offers Master Degree courses on Urban and Suburban Agriculture.- Having as background the large experience of the Institute for Fundamentals Research in Tropical Agriculture "Alexander von Humboldt" (INIFAT) and all achieved results of our technicians in other countries, have been assembled "an experienced and competent faculty in AU-ASU Mastery. During three years the courses of Master Degree are developed with a staff of experts and professors in the related themes that will be responsible for the development of the studies. This degree is offered to both Cuban and foreigners.