New Trucks and Tankers Bolster Tabacuba While Cuban Farmers Await Supplies

The Agricultural Transport Company, a branch under Tabacuba, has recently expanded its fleet with a new batch of heavy-duty vehicles. According to its executives, this upgrade aims to enhance the transportation of resources for tobacco-related agricultural and agro-industrial activities in Pinar del Río province, as reported by the newspaper Guerrillero.

As detailed in the publication's online section, the acquisition includes 10 tractor trailers, 21 semi-trailers, and five fuel tankers, along with lighter vehicles designated for administrative use and funeral services in tobacco-growing areas. These additions will join a largely outdated fleet, with some units being over 50 years old but kept operational through planned repairs.

Improved Logistics Fall Short for Farmers Awaiting Supplies

Emilio Triana Ordaz, the company's general director, stated that the new vehicles will expedite the movement of more than 200 containers filled with resources for the upcoming tobacco season, commencing this month. However, despite Tabacuba's efforts to upgrade its fleet and logistics framework, the Cuban agricultural sector continues to struggle with a severe shortage of essential supplies, ranging from fertilizers to fuel, significantly hindering agricultural output across various provinces.

Diversification and Internal Oversight

The company has broadened its scope of operations. In addition to transporting wood and tobacco, it now handles fertilizers, basic goods, housing program materials, and offers support in waste collection and funeral services. An internal control system has been implemented, assigning each driver the responsibility of maintaining their vehicle in top condition. Furthermore, an expert committee has been established to allocate positions to new drivers, aiming to improve efficiency.

A Stark Contrast

While Tabacuba fortifies its logistical apparatus, the stark contrast with the reality faced by agricultural producers becomes increasingly apparent. Many farmers are still waiting for the resources necessary for planting. Though the company asserts that the new fleet will enhance efficiency across the "port-transport-internal economy" chain, the structural issues plaguing Cuban agriculture extend far beyond the mere transportation of supplies: chronic resource shortages, reliance on imports, and a lack of autonomy for producers.

Through these investments, Tabacuba seeks to sustain its pivotal role within the tobacco sector, which remains a key source of export revenue for the island. Nevertheless, on the ground, many farmers continue to hope that this machinery translates into tangible supplies and improved productivity.

In August, six tobacco producers were awarded automobiles as part of an incentive program designed to boost production and encourage participation in the sector's value chain.

Prison Labor in Cigar Production Exposed

This week, the Cuban regime came under scrutiny after Tabacuba admitted, via an official statement, that incarcerated individuals on the island are involved in the production of the renowned Cuban cigars. The declaration, prompted by a report from the NGO Prisoners Defenders and published by the specialized outlet Halfwheel, confirmed longstanding allegations of prisoner exploitation within one of Cuba's most profitable industries.

The report from the Madrid-based Prisoners Defenders revealed that at least 40 inmates work as cigar rollers in the Quivicán prison, alongside two civilians who serve as instructors and administrators.