About 6,000 banana hectares that were damaged by Hurricane Sandy may be recovered in the province of Holguin through the appropriate agrotechnical management of their plantations.
Joaquin Almaguer, a specialist in the territorial delegation of agriculture, told AIN that this possibility is already appreciated in the areas hit by the weather phenomenon of October 25th, where work is intensified to rehabilitate crops.
Of the total banana crops that were pulled out by the strong winds of the cyclone, he said it will be impossible to rescue about 3,000 hectares because of the degree of the damage, and what is imposed from now is to cover them with new and efficient plantings.
The main effort is directed towards those fields where is it feasible to recover some of the affected areas. He said they are working to remove suckers and defoliate plants with the aim of applying fertilizer as soon as possible and give the attention that was required.
Priorities are concentrated on the recovery of the crop in the province whose
plantations represent 65% of total agricultural areas argued Almaguer, an agronomist from the line.
Holguín is among the largest banana producers of Cuba, with an area larger than
16,000 hectares. Most of this area is developed in dryland farming, potentially served by farmers and agricultural centers of the municipalities of Urbano Noris, Banes, Mayari and Rafael Freyre.
Farmers who dedicated most of their life to this branch, like Alfredo Guerrero of the CPA July 26, of Banes, and Alejandro Perez of the Finca el Clarito of Báguano, consider it essential for banana crops to focus on the agro-technical support that has been offered so they can perform at their maximum potential.
About these considerations, Almaguer reiterated that the areas on the path to recovery in Holguin may enter in production again from May and June, which will help increase gradually from these periods volumes of other food crops, grains and vegetables.
(By Alfredo Carralero Hernandez / AIN)