Agriculture Minister Gustavo Rodriguez Rollero told a U.S. audience that Cuba wants to expand farm output dramatically, in part to feed the increasing stream of tourists to the island. The country now imports $2 billion in food annually “but we want to produce at least 50 percent,” Rodriguez said at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce during a visit to Washington and Iowa, reported Agencia EFE.
U.S. farm groups view Cuba as a natural and nearby market for food exports, but sales are far lower than hoped. Rodriguez said “the difficulty in accessing credit facilities” was a problem. At present, Cuba is required to pay on delivery for U.S. food and ag imports and by law is ineligible for credit. The Hagstrom Report quoted the minister as saying that Cuba needed mid- and long-term financing in order to buy U.S.-made farm equipment.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is to accompany Rodriguez on a trip to Iowa today. Prensa Latina said the Cuban delegation, which includes officials from the ministries of science, foreign affairs and water resources, would visit agricultural research centers and production facilities. “According to information released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the visit of the Cuban delegation will boost cooperation in areas such as organic production and scientific exchanges on animal and plant health,” said Prensa Latina.