16,000 Requests for Land Use in 3 Days

At the most recent meeting of the National Assembly in July, a law was put forth to allow Cubans the right to hold in usufruct and to work unused state lands. The strategic purpose was one of national food security, to expand and to rationalize agricultural production in order to wean the nation off of alimentary dependency. Cuba currently gets about 80% of its food from abroad, much from the United States, which plays the odd role of enemy-mercantilist.

The importance of greatly increasing production has grown exponentially after the recent spate of hurricanes crippled major portions of Cuba's agricultural sector. Completed harvests, pending yields, and crucial infrastructure were lost in the tempests.

After three days of the newly decentralized state agricultural authorities accepting applications for acreage, over 16,000 once and future farmers have requested land to grow crops and/or raise livestock.

The state is encouraging the new small scale farming operations to focus on crops with quick turnarounds, like squash, sweet potatoes, and greens, so as to feed more rapidly the populace hungry from post-storm shortages. As many a Cuban are presently wont to note "los agros están pela'o"--the markets are barren.