The Cuban Council of Ministers has passed Decree 172, introducing changes to the existing regulations on soil conservation, sustainable management, and fertilizer use. This measure aims to stimulate the country's agricultural recovery.
Signed by Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz on August 19, 2026, the decree was published on Wednesday in the Official Gazette No. 75 Ordinary of 2026, spanning pages 100 to 103, alongside 18 other regulations related to the agricultural sector.
Decree 172 updates Decree 52, dated September 1, 2021, which was the regulation of Decree-Law 50 concerning the conservation, improvement, and sustainable management of soils and fertilizer use.
A Response to Legislative Changes
This update stems from a legislative chain initiated on July 22, 2026, when the Council of State issued Decree-Law 126 to amend Decree-Law 50, as part of the 176 economic and social transformations endorsed by the National Assembly in June 2026.
The Final Provision Two of Decree-Law 126 explicitly mandated an update to the regulations, leading to the publication of Decree 172.
Key Amendments to Existing Regulations
The new decree revises eleven articles of Decree 52, specifically articles 3, 5, 32, 45, 46, 49, 52, 62, 64, 65, and 66. It also repeals several sections: section 2 of article 33, section 3 of article 45, section 2 of article 47, section 2 of article 52, and articles 53 and 54 entirely.
Among the significant changes is the redefinition of the roles of the National Soil and Fertilizer System, now under the direction of the Director of Soils and Fertilizers at the Ministry of Agriculture.
The revised article 5 states that this Directorate must "plan financial resources for its self-management," while article 32 assigns it the responsibility of executing the national balance of mineral, organic, organo-mineral, biological fertilizers, correctives, stimulants, and amendments, regarding those acquired by the State or received through donations to the state sector.
Land Use and Ownership Concerns
Chapter IX of Decree 52 has been renamed "Change of Land Use, Compensation, and Protection." In this chapter, the amended article 45 stipulates that any land use change requires authorization from the provincial agricultural delegates or, in the case of the special municipality Isla de la Juventud, from its authorities.
One of the most far-reaching provisions is article 49, which states that a change in the use of privately owned land "can be initiated ex officio even if the owner expresses disagreement, through forced expropriation ordered by the competent court."
The Official Gazette No. 75 represents the most comprehensive agricultural regulatory package published in Cuba in 2026: its 19 regulations cover land, soils, water, mechanization, seeds, zoogenetic resources, and agricultural marketing, including Law 185 on land ownership and use and Decree 175 that regulates it.
The regime is presenting these reforms as a response to a severe agricultural crisis, acknowledged even by the government, in a context where Cuba imports around 80% of its consumed food.
Understanding Cuba's Agricultural Policy Changes
What is the purpose of Cuba's Decree 172?
Decree 172 aims to enhance the recovery of Cuba's agricultural sector by updating regulations on soil conservation, sustainable management, and fertilizer use.
Why was Decree-Law 50 amended?
Decree-Law 50 was amended as part of a series of economic and social transformations endorsed by the National Assembly to address Cuba's agricultural crisis.
What are the implications for private landowners?
Private landowners may face compulsory expropriation if land use changes are initiated despite their disagreement, as outlined in the new regulations.