Fewer Eggs in Cuba’s Ration Book
HAVANA TIMES — The Cuban government’s decision to halve the number of eggs to be delivered monthly to the population, through the ration book, took effect on Monday.
According to a press release over the weekend from the Ministry of Internal Trade, the five eggs a month each citizen receives at the subsidized price of 0.15 cents Cuban pesos (CUP), will remain, but the other five, sold at 0.90 cents, will be deleted.
The new price for eggs beyond the five from the ration book is 1.10 pesos, as was being charged in agricultural markets administered by the army.
This new policy adds another cut to the already low volume of basic products that Cubans receive supplies through the dwindling ration book.
In 2012 the production of eggs, one of the most demanded products in the island, was four per cent below the previous year.
The price increase deals a blow especially to those Cubans who work for the government and pensioners who do not have relatives abroad sending them remittances. One Convertible Peso or CUC = 0.87 USD and 1 USD = 20 CUP (regular pesos).
Good source of protein but not the only source
I guess that’s why so many Cubans raise chickens in their own yards.
Berta Soler doesn’t look like she’s skipping any meals either.
Reduced imports, declining food production, less food via the rationing, exorbitant prices for food in CUC and little supply via farmer’s markets: Cubans three biggest problems still are breakfast, lunch and dinner.
It are the remittances that ensure most Cuban have reasonable food rations. The 35-40% of Cubans that don’t get remittances and that do not have other access to extra income (like members of the lite) struggle and face hunger.
See:
http://cubafood.blogspot.ca/p/food-in-cuba-today.html
And because coming from a society (Australia) where some people eat 5 eggs a day that are produced in factory farms where chickens live their life’s as egg producing machines in tiny cages! A cruel act by humans- it made we wonder about Cuban eggs when I was there, and still now!
I’m curious- when I was in Cuba earlier this year I spent time in Havana but also travelled the countryside and I was very fascinated by the amount of free roaming chickens with their family of chicks. The eggs they lay would they sell them to the government or keep them for family and friends? Where does the supply of eggs rationed out so sparingly to the people come from?
Another victory of the Revolution! Hasta Siempre!
Marino Murillo. the Castro’s economic czar, was on Cuban TV just the other night and this guy is getting fatter every day. I just bet he is not getting his monthly egg ration cut in half.