The Eladio Machín Coffee Processing Company, located in Cienfuegos, has announced its intention to compensate coffee farmers in foreign currency during the ongoing coffee harvest season. However, details such as the type of currency, the payment amounts, and the timeline for these payments remain unspecified.
This information was reported by the provincial newspaper 5 de Septiembre, which included statements from Omar Bermúdez Sánchez, the company's general manager.
"The payments will be made in foreign currency to benefit the farmers and improve their working conditions," stated the director.
The announcement hints at the possibility of foreign currency payments for those participating in coffee collection, yet the publication does not confirm that such payments have been made, nor does it specify the amounts or the number of workers who will benefit.
Additionally, it is unclear whether the farmers will receive cash, bank transfers, or credits in Freely Convertible Currency (MLC) accounts. This latter option would allow for electronic balances but would not necessarily equate to receiving cash in hand, especially given that stores selling MLC products are currently facing shortages.
The company has also not clarified if this payment will be in addition to the usual income of the farmers, nor has it shared when the payments will start or what criteria the workers must meet to receive them.
Ultimately, while the announcement raises hopes among the farmers, it leaves crucial details about the payment process—how, when, and how much—unanswered.
Contracted Coffee Sale in Mariel Bermúdez also mentioned that the processing company has secured a coffee sale in the Mariel Special Development Zone, a transaction he claims will benefit the Cienfuegos-based entity's economy. However, he did not provide specifics about the final destination or the buyer of the coffee.
The coffee harvest is already underway in Cienfuegos, focusing on the robusta and arabica varieties.
According to the director of the Eladio Machín Coffee Processing Company, three depulping facilities—Cuatro Vientos, San Blas, and El Nicho—are scheduled to operate during the campaign. The Cuatro Vientos facility will process beans supplied by the Youth Labor Army (EJT), while the other two facilities will also participate in processing.
The director noted that coffee collection in the fields is scheduled to occur twice a week as part of the campaign's planned organization.
Bermúdez also highlighted the efforts made in the plantations in previous months, which, in his assessment, have maintained favorable conditions for harvesting.
Among the improvement activities for the coffee plantations, he emphasized the work of Jesús Chaviano's seed farm located in Mayarí.
The official attributed challenges in the coffee sector to the United States embargo, asserting that these restrictions hinder access to essential agricultural supplies.
"It is impossible to acquire supplies such as herbicides, pesticides, and tools," he claimed.
The processor also continues commercial activities in Cumanayagua, where Casa Luis Gómez operates, selling both prepared coffee and coffee powder, either pure or blended, as explained by Bermúdez.
The news of foreign currency payments for coffee farmers comes amid broader economic operations involving foreign currency in Cuba.
On September 10th, new rules were published regarding the management and retention of foreign currency income by economic actors, outlined in Resolution 103/2026 by the Ministry of Economy and Planning.
The regulation covers, among other operations, income from sales to the Mariel Special Development Zone and establishes different retention conditions based on the type of entity and the source of resources.
Furthermore, Cuba's new Labor Code generally mandates salary payments in Cuban pesos, although it also allows for certain income and bonuses in foreign currency under specific conditions.
Key Questions About Coffee Payments in Foreign Currency
What type of foreign currency will be used to pay the coffee farmers?
The specific type of foreign currency to be used for payments has not been disclosed by the company.
When will the foreign currency payments begin?
The company has not specified when the foreign currency payments to the coffee farmers will commence.
Will the payments be an addition to the regular income of the farmers?
It is unclear if the payments in foreign currency will be in addition to the farmers' regular income.