Potato planting in Ciego de Avila, one of the main programs of the winter period, is favored by the current climatic situation and because it is a priority for state growers and the cooperative sector.
In the first days of November producers began plantings and there are currently more than 340 planted hectares in three companies of various crops and in 3 agricultural production cooperatives.
The first fields were planted with national seeds last year and then producers continued the plantations with imported seeds, as they have higher yields than the Cuban seeds, stated engineer Yusvany Cardenas Benitez, deputy representative of Agriculture in this region.
The producers from Ciego de Avila have committed to plant over 800 hectares. The lands were prepared in advance and the producers have the necessary resources to achieve a bigger harvest than the ones achieved in the two previous seasons, when the weather hurt the plantations.
Farmers and habitual workers are working to obtain averages of at least 25 tons per hectare, i.e. six tons more than what they achieved in the last harvest.
Prior to the start of the plantings, more than 70 irrigation machines were refurbished, so that producers could have efficient irrigation and so that they don't waste water, at a time when the region's groundwater only has 36 percent of its total capacity.
The agricultural companies that are planting potatoes are Arnaldo Ramirez, La Cuba, and El Mambi, while the agricultural production cooperatives participating in this crop are Paquito Gonzalez, Revolucion de Octubre, and Julio 26, all of which have mechanized planting and experience in such work.
Jose Alberto Gonzalez, the president of agricultural production cooperative Paquito Gonzalez, said his cooperative was working to achieve yields of 27 tons per hectare, a yield they have previously on several occasions.
Source: ACN