While Cuba is still facing a severe coffee shortage that has affected the population for several months, Santiago de Cuba authorities announce that the province of Santiago de Cuba, the largest coffee producer on the island, will tax around 4,000 tons of the grain in the current harvest. .
The news, offered to the Weekly Sierra Maestra by Jorge Luis Rondón Borges, Head of the coffee program in that province, raises many questions regarding the production and distribution of the product.
In a country where coffee is an essential element of daily life and culture, the lack of this product for 5 months in the island’s wineries has been a constant source of discontent among the population.
Cuban authorities have pointed out the low production levels of the grain as the fundamental cause of the coffee shortage. And although there are strategic plans to produce 30 thousand tons in 2030, the truth is that right now the country cannot even secure coffee from regulated sales.
Jorge Luis Rondón Borges points out that, with the exception of the municipality of Mella, all the territories of the province of Santiago de Cuba are involved in coffee production. The manager refers to the progress of the territory and assures that now the pulping and drying are being carried out at a good pace in the province, but is the adequate amount being allocated to satisfy the needs of the population?
A little over a week ago it was announced that the renowned Italian brand Lavazza launched its premium Tierra Cuba coffee, produced with select seeds grown by 170 farmers in the mountainous areas of Santiago de Cuba and Granma. According to what they indicated, the product has 65% of the Arabica Turquino variety from Cuba.
