In the first quarter of this year, some 7,000 tons of pork, one of the foods most in demand by Cubans, were not produced in Cuba, according to executives from the island\u2019s agricultural sector.<\/p>\n
Regla Ferrer, national director for pork production of the Livestock Higher Organization of Business Management (OSDE), belonging to the Ministry of Agriculture, said that the monthly production volumes of this product remain above 9,000, \u201ca figure much lower than the more than 12,000 tons required,\u201d the official daily Granma<\/em> reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n Ferrer explained that the production of pork has been depressed \u201cdue to the low availability of animal feed accessible to producers, a phenomenon that affects the meat mass stipulated for each specimen before its marketing.\u201d<\/p>\n He also said that liquid feed, \u201cone of the promising alternatives being undertaken,\u201d could not continue being used in animal feed due to the paralysis of tourism due to the COVID-19 pandemic, \u201cbecause this sector provided the grosss of organic raw material for the elaboration of said feed.\u201d<\/p>\n This is why a breach of the previewed plan for the year is already foreseen, which had been 170,000 tons.<\/p>\n As a palliative, she commented, \u201cemphasis has been placed on the sowing of national food to supply the feed deficit,\u201d while promoting \u201cthe generation and dissemination of the raising of dark-coated pigs (Cuban), more adaptable to the island\u2019s conditions and accessible inputs such as the royal palm\u2019s fruit.\u201d<\/p>\n In addition, she stated that \u201cthe first three genetic centers for this purpose will be located in (the provinces) Pinar del R\u00edo, Sancti Sp\u00edritus and Granma,\u201d but noted that \u201cthis is a long-term project.\u201d Meanwhile, she said the aim is for farmers who have Cuban pigs \u201cto start contributing to local self-reliance.\u201d<\/p>\n Regarding chicken production, Norberto Espinosa, president of the Livestock OSDE, pointed out that \u201cit is relevant\u201d that this year all Cuban provinces \u201chave started to produce chicken,\u201d although he said it is still being done \u201cin a very incipient way.\u201d<\/p>\n According to Espinosa, to date only 1,098 tons have been produced, \u201ca very small number compared to the 300,000 tons of this product that Cuba imports annually to satisfy domestic demand.\u201d<\/p>\n The executive pointed out that Cuban production must benefit from four foreign investment businesses, \u201cwhich, it is estimated, can generate about 100,000 tons of chicken for the country, which would be subtracted from the amount currently imported.\u201d<\/p>\n Finally, OSDE executives said that the production of eggs on the island \u201chad an increase of 40 million units compared to the same period the previous year,\u201d and that in the coming months \u201cit should maintain this rhythm, which augurs a compliance with the plan set at 1.912 billion eggs.\u201d<\/p>\n Both eggs and chicken are two of the products most sought after by Cubans today. Both are sold by the government through the ration book, while a part, especially chicken, is sold in stores in convertible pesos (CUC), which generates long lines at a time when the island is going through a difficult economic situation and is trying to contain the spread of COVID-19.<\/p>\n Looking for the national mammal. What about swine production in Cuba?<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n