Cuba has to show us how to do health care and now they have to show us

[ensho]

how to green farm.


http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=42347


CUBA: ‘Green’ Farming Techniques to Boost Production


The application of agroecological techniques and the salvaging of traditional farming methods have revolutionised food production in rural areas along the southern edge of the Cuban capital.

Cuba is currently facing the urgent challenge of boosting agricultural productivity because of the rise in global food prices.

A number of farms in the outlying Havana district of Batabanó that are taking part in the Programme for Local Agrarian Innovation (PIAL) have seen improvements in their harvests and livestock.

The key seems to lie in efforts to capitalise on natural conditions in the area and in the openness to innovative ideas, particularly with regard to crop diversification.

"We used to have big problems with animal feed," 39-year-old Jorge Bársena told IPS. "But today we don't need to buy hay, and we supply our own meat and eggs," said the farmer, who owns the La Otmara farm and is president of the 9 de Abril small farmers cooperative.

Bársena joined PIAL over four years ago as part of a seed improvement project involving small farmers that was developed by the National Institute of Agricultural Sciences (INCA). He has since experimented with the cultivation of soybeans, wheat, beans, sorghum, millet, barley and rice.

"Now we are working heavily with soybeans, which are the future of animal feed here," he said. The success of his experiments with protein-rich soybean varieties has helped foment livestock-raising in this area, around 50 km south of Havana.

-long snip-

"There are many farmers who need to expand their farms," said Bársena. "I don’t think major funding is needed. What is needed instead is agroecological management, based on our natural conditions, the climate, and growing seasons -- traditional elements that have been lost."

"Nature cannot be ignored; we have to work with her, because she is our guide," said the farmer.
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tell that to our agro barons and they will smirk, as profit is their bottom line.

[Mika]

1. Necessity breeds invention. Plus, it takes the will of the Cuban people to make this happen.

When the economic collapse came to Cuba in 1994 (known as "the special period" because their primary creditor, the USSR, went belly up) it put a huge strain on Cuba. That, in addition to the US extra territorial embargo, forced Cuba to become as self sufficient as humanly possible. During and since then Cuba has managed to upgrade all of its socialized infrastructure, managing the highest world class stats in quality of life indicators - infant mortality, longevity, health care, education, housing, etc.

Lots of links on Cuba's organic revolution --> here <--.

It is an amazing place, and the Cuban people are amazing.

Been there. Seen it.


-


Revolution is the profound conviction that there
is no force in the world capable of destroying
the force of truth and ideas.

[Warpy]

2. Domestic organic farmers have also reported

increased yields once the system is well established and the soil is built up rather than mined, agribusiness style.

If we want to feed this hungry planet, we're going to have to return to sustainable farming methods.

[Mika]

3. Kick for the late afternoon crowd.

:kick: