Cuba Obtains Domestic Cabbage Seed for the First Time

For the first time in the history of its horticulture, Cuba obtained cabbage seed of a new strain that increases yields.

The species was created by specialists of the Institute National Fundamental Research Tropical Agriculture and cultivated by framer Ariel Gonzalez Molerio of the Jose Marti Credit and Services Cooperative.

Adolfo Nodals Rodriguez, head of urban and suburban agriculture, told ACN news agency, in a recent visit to Ciego de Avila, this result is part of a program to reduce imports of vegetable seeds and at the same time aims at greater production per area.

He said that Cuba purchases abroad two-thirds of the seed that the annual demand to fill horticulture and it is necessary to substitute this import entirely with local productions.

The cabbage harvested by Gonzalez Molerio reached at 65 days of its planting, its maximum development with profits of over eight tons per acre, a 20 percent higher than other varieties, said the Gonzalez in meeting with other farmers.

This initiative will be extended to other cooperatives Ciego de Avila and state farms, said José Manuel León, Agriculture specialist in this central province.

Cabbage is rich in vitamins A, B, C, E and minerals, it helps fight breast, lung, stomach, ovary and colon cancers,  counteracts obesity and is effective in those have osteoporosis, according to studies.

Source: Escambray