The Cuban government declared on Sunday that it would remove restrictions on the number of hectares available for land use and extend this opportunity to all economic players, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), joint ventures, and foreign investors, as reported by the state-run Cubadebate.
Vice Prime Minister Jorge Luis Tapia Fonseca made the announcement during a meeting with cooperatives and producers from municipalities in the western part of Havana, as part of the Government's 2026 Economic and Social Program.
Agriculture Minister Ydael Pérez Brito clarified that the land area available for allocation would no longer be capped at a fixed limit but determined according to the production project presented and the state's prioritized programs.
The primary requirement is that applicants must have already utilized any land they currently hold before requesting additional plots.
The land allocation process is also being streamlined: agricultural system enterprises can directly assign land to applicants in collaboration with cooperatives, with an estimated timeframe of 15 to 20 days, a significant reduction from previous lengthy periods.
Tapia Fonseca emphasized, "Economic actors, regardless of their sector. Anyone who wants to work the land can do so."
Additional updates include the ability for lands granted under usufruct to be inherited, even by individuals who have emigrated but retain effective citizenship, allowing them to request new allocations. Producers can expand the area of improvements to up to 5% of their total land, and if they achieve positive results for more than five years, they may gain ownership of any housing constructed on that land.
Legal issues concerning land inheritance and related processes will no longer fall under the Ministry of Agriculture but will be transferred to municipal and provincial courts and justice departments.
These changes are part of a broader set of reforms. The new Agricultural and Forestry Land Law proposed by the government, slated for approval during the National Assembly's ordinary session on July 29, aims to consolidate over 25 scattered legal provisions, extend usufruct contracts to 25 years with the possibility of renewal, and increase the cap for individuals to 67.10 hectares.
The backdrop to these reforms is a historically severe agricultural crisis: rice production plummeted from 304,000 tons in 2018 to just 111,000 by 2025, tuber crops declined by 44%, and egg production by 43%.
Cuba relies on imports for 70% to 80% of its food consumption, incurring an annual expense of nearly $2 billion, and a recent survey indicated that one-third of Cuban families are experiencing hunger.
In June, the government also revealed plans to dissolve the Ministry of Agriculture, replacing it with a new Ministry of Agro-Food that will encompass agriculture, the food industry, fishing, and the sugar sector.
Tapia Fonseca underscored the urgency driving these measures with a straightforward warning: "If we do not increase production, if we do not put more people on the land, then we cannot advance."
Frequently Asked Questions about Cuba's Land Use Reforms
What changes have been made to the land allocation process in Cuba?
Cuba has lifted the cap on hectares for land use and opened this opportunity to all economic sectors, including SMEs, joint ventures, and foreign investors. The land allocation process is now more streamlined, with a reduced timeframe for assignment.
Who can inherit lands granted under the new usufruct regulations?
Lands granted under usufruct can be inherited by individuals, including those who have emigrated but still hold effective Cuban citizenship. They are also eligible to request new land allocations.
How does the new Agricultural and Forestry Land Law impact land use in Cuba?
The proposed law intends to unify over 25 existing legal provisions regarding land use, extend usufruct contracts to 25 years with renewal options, and increase the land cap for individuals to 67.10 hectares.