Cuba Food News: Stressed Chickens & Fish Trafficking
Daniel Benitez (Cafe Fuerte)
HAVANA TIMES — Declining egg production in Havana’s neighboring province of Artemisa, where a deficit of 2.8 million units was officially reported in January and February, set off an alarm this last week.
Luis Carlos Perez, director of Artemisa’s poultry industry, shared these worrying production figures with the provincial press, insisting the situation has not yet had an impact on the supply and distribution to Havana.
One of the main reasons which the official claims responsible for the drop in egg production in the region is “stress caused by climactic irregularities, such as strong winds, low temperatures and overcast days”, as well as other difficulties affecting the quality of the feed.
The days in which Fidel Castro boasted that Cuban chickens at the National Poultry Industry Complex broke all production records (despite the hurricanes and strong winds that lashed the island) seem distant now. The times have changed.
Transportation Issues
Perez also made mention of other difficulties, such as the “transportation of chickens”, particularly egg-laying hens, as well as health problems reported at several units, adding that certain climactic improvements and the adequate handling of the birds at production facilities have already led to increased production. He estimated that production goals will be surpassed at the close of March.
At any rate, the stress affecting Cuban chickens seems to be a nationwide problem, as egg production dropped to 2.063.7 billion units last year, 3.2 million below the figure reported in 2013. Eggs are a key source of protein for Cuban families.
Artemisa has set a production goal of 247.2 million eggs for 2015, 3.4 million more than were produced last year. The higher production goal stems from the assembly of new infrastructure that can house an additional 11 thousand laying hens, starting May this year, Perez reported.
Eggs are also a key product for food production and services run by the self-employed, who many a time must resort to the black market for supplies, as is the case with other food products that are scarce at State markets.
Confiscations in Cienfuegos
The illegal sale of fish and seafood products to private businesses was dealt a harsh blow in Cienfuegos in recent months following the confiscation of 11 tons of fish and seafood, five private cars and one truck belonging to a State company.
The goods were being sold mainly to private restaurants and bed-and-breakfasts in the region. According to Radio Rebelde, in some cases, the products were brought from neighboring provinces such as Villa Clara and Sancti Spiritus.
During operations carried out over the past 13 months, Cuban authorities confiscated “1.8 tons of lobster, arriving mainly from Sagua la Grande and Trinidad,” Orlando Diaz, representative of the National Fishing Inspection Bureau, told the radio.
A truck belonging to an unnamed State company located in the municipality of Mayjigua was used for these illegal sales. The truck was carrying a ton and a half of fish.
A total of 300,000 Cuban pesos (some US $12,000) in fines were applied and 120 pieces of fishing equipment, two refrigeration systems and dozens of kilometers of nets were confiscated.
The fines applied on illegal suppliers of lobster and shrimp oscillate between 7,500 and 10,000 Cuban pesos.
One of the smuggled species was the Jocu red snapper, which the Cuban Ministry of Public Health reports as toxic when consumed in excess of three pounds.
The reports have not specified how many people were involved in these activities and whether any are facing criminal charges.
Why does Cuba have persistent shortages? This is one of the reasons:
“Cuban officials have been accused of stealing 8 million eggs.
The eggs were stolen from state companies and the officials could face up to 20 years in prison, reports the BBC. State newspaper Granma estimates the theft has cost Cuba some $350,000 in revenue. Up to 19 officials are accused.”
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/cuban-officials-accused-stealing-million-eggs-article-1.2149319
Right. So we can see that bad economic policies, in both Puerto Rico and Cuba, are the cause of the failing agricultural sectors. The political orientations of these bad policies differ, (state socialism in Cuba, crony corporate imperialism in Puerto Rico). But the troubles cannot be excused away as “climatic” conditions.
Yes, US eggs because the local industry is moribund….you are familair with multiplier effect of money when the industry is locally owned versus foreign owned?
Actually, I just returned from a two week visit and they were having some problems, especially with local production of eggs. But you are right, Puerto Rico’s problem is not climactic (that changes gradually) but colonialism. Puerto Rico cannot trade in any merchant marine it chooses (hmmm freedom of choice) it is obligated by the Jones Act to use the US merchant marine the most expensive and inefficient in the world. That makes products more expensive. Puerto Rico used to have a very large poultry locally owned enterpises until US importers began to dump cheap and old US produced eggs. Puerto Rico, in the 1970s had more than 6 breweries and only one major remains India, which produces Medalla a very light quality beer (yumas bring boxes when they visit…so did I). Major importers dumped Coor Light, and other crappy beer and did not allow the PR government to place tariffs (US does it for their own products, but does not allow PR). If Cuba goes nut and introduces capitalism, see yourself in the mirror of Puerto Rico. Already 350,000 have left the island $73 billion in public debt (how do you think imports are paid in an island that has entered it 8 year of depression, not recession
Terry, I am a novice at farming, but can you explain to me how a 50+ year “natural fluctuation” in food production in Cuba came about?
Start with explain why within 2 years of Castro seizing power Cuba’s rice production – staple food – fell by 50% and never recovered.
Educate us.
The same I guess, but I never knew that the Stasi had helped Castro to set up a “chicken CDR” as well. 🙂
From “giant rabbits” to “midget cows” over “stressed chickens”: the story of Castro’s meat production.
Castro “replacement” – except for “picadillo de soya”, the “moringa”, has now been shown to have ” substances of toxic , addictive or psychotropic risk”. High or hungry. What a choice.
Source: El señor de la moringa – http://www.14ymedio.com/cienciaytecnologia/senor-moringa_0_1729627024.html
There is a French expression that says:
“Les excuses sont faites pour s’en servir”.
“Excuses are made ??to be used”
Let’s get real: it is the ineffective Castro production and distribution system run by some planning idiots and not the farmers and middlemen Cuba needs that create the problems.
I have seen estimates that between 15 and 20% of Cuban agricultural productions gets lost in distribution due to lack of transport, packaging, refrigeration, ….
Actually, Puerto Rico does have some serious problems with their food production. They import 85% of their food. While eggs & dairy are produced locally, most fruits, vegetables and meat have to be imported. The cause of the problem has been identified as a long term economic development policy which emphasized industrial development at the expense of agriculture.
That said, climactic conditions are not seen as a factor.
http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/health/2014/09/25/agriculture-experts-warn-of-food-shortages-in-puerto-rico/
Barring a natural disaster or country-wide chicken disease, there is no valid reason for an EGG shortage. Your “natural fluctuations” excuse won’t work here. But you keep laughing if you wish. I think I will have an omelet.
Since the revolutionary government came to power Cuba has had nothing but shortages. Today, in the first half of the 21st century, there are less head of cattle in Cuba than there was in 1959! Do you know what’s responsible Terry? ….communist central planning. And Castro stupidity!
Puerto Rico has no trouble feeding its population and chickens and eggs are booming!
So yes communism or better yet Cuban socialism. It’s to inlame when the revolution can’t get a glass of milk on every table (I believe Castro promised that once) and chickens and eggs ( not to mention cattle) are on the decline. ….and that has nothing to do with the embargo!
Puerto Rico also is going thorugh the same problems, climactic conditions, but of course you Moses blame communism or better yet socialism.
I’m laughing, Moses, but unfortunately it’s at you. Sorry amigo, you many times leave yourself wide open for it. There are natural fluctuations that occur in the production of all food stuffs around the world. What a pity it is that you can’t separate your hatred of the Castros from that of periodic production deviations that have nothing to do with how the chickens are governed.
So the chickens are stressed… How do you think the Cuban people feel?
Are you kidding? An egg shortage? How tough is it to raise chickens? First its toilet paper, then beer, then condoms. Now chickens. The Castros are a joke and, unfortunately, no one is laughing.