Author: Osmel Ramirez

In the early days of April, COVID-19’s appearance in Mayari was close at hand; and the first positive case would be identified at any moment.

Some people note that the risk of infection is just a “maybe”, but the need to eat and wash oneself is a “definite and immediate” need.

Word quickly got around Mayari and the population’s concerns and stress, relating to the real fear of becoming victims of this pandemic, began.

This season, nature has been kind to tobacco crops in Mayari, Holguin. And my drying process is going well thus far.

The “temporary” crisis in Cuba isn’t living up to its name and is stretching out like the structural evil it truly is.

Horse-drawn wagons and bicitaxis are the main means of transport in Mayari, Holguin, a municipality of 105,000 inhabitants…

I was already a man, although still quite young, when I discovered Jose Marti. The real Marti that is, in his own words…

Everything here in my community is linked to tobacco farming; it’s the main source of income for a large part of the population, both directly and indirectly.

The government talks about increasing national production vs. imports but in practice the agricultural policy often goes in the opposite direction.