• Submitted by: manso
• Business and Economy
• 09 / 15 / 2011

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SANTA CLARA, Cuba, Sep 13 (acn) The President of the National Association of Small Farmers (ANAP) Orlando Lugo Fonte announced Cuba will reorganize cooperatives to strengthen those that are profitable and strike off the ones that are not.

Lugo Fonte met with representatives from the farming cooperative system in central Villa Clara province and called them to search for alternatives to increase productivity and efficiency.

He said five agriculture cooperatives (CPA) and 34 Credit and Services Cooperatives (CCS) will merge to improve their management and use of resources.

The debates tackled the current situation of 14 CPAs and 7 Basic Units of Cooperative Production (UBPC-government-run entities) that could be dissolved due to low productivity, bank debts and little or null profitability, among other issues.

Agriculture Ministry's official Julio Martinez told cooperative's managers it is their job to debate with the partners on the problems, to propose changes to undertake and to look for solutions before striking off their institutions.

He said that by establishing constant controls on the actions taken, and electing a good board of directors, cooperatives will guarantee good performances in this important sector of Cuba's economy.

They also spoke on the need to avoid using ineffective procedures, the migration of farmers to the cities and the necessity of raising living standards in rural communities.

Source. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CubaNews/message/126365