• Submitted by: manso
• Business and Economy
• 09 / 20 / 2011

---

2011.09.19 - 14:36:34 / radiorebelde.icrt.cu. HAVANA, Cuba.-  The Cuban minister of economy and planning, Abdel Yzquierdo Rodriguez, urged farmers in the Caujeri Valley to plant more beans, corn, and chickpeas. 

According to the Granma newspaper, farmers should do so to cover with grains areas where they will not plant tomato anymore due to the lack of an industry to process it. 

Yzquierdo; the first secretary of the Cuban Communist Party (PCC) in Guantanamo province, Luis Antonio Torres Iribar; and the minister of agriculture, Gustavo Rodriguez, reviewed present investments in this agricultural sector and the compliance with production plans. 

The minister of economy affirmed that the country assures the buying of all the grain farmers are able to harvest and encouraged them to strengthen phytosanitary control to prevent plagues and diseases from reducing yielding, as occurred with tomato early this year. 

The minister was updated on that 22.8 kilometers of a watering system have been already installed, as well as 20.42 kilometers of water distribution pipes; though he confirmed there are difficulties in terms of pieces and accessories, says Granma. 

Water availability guaranteed by the Sabanalamar-Pozo Azul Gravity Transvase has allowed farmers to meet their production plans up to the moment in vegetables, fruits, meat, and honey, among other products. 

The harvest of grains runs to a 98 %; while tomato and milk production are behind schedule.(ACN)