Cuba: Sustainable Agriculture (Continued from Page A 22) producing more food, especially in the areas where it is most needed. In response to these re forms, the people of this society, with the support of their govern ment and universities, launched a massive campaign to make wide spread, diversified, and well-dis tributed sustainable and organic agriculture a reality. One major initiative of the Special Period was implementa tion of urban agriculture, with folks farming their backyards, or bringing new life to abandoned lots or defunct manufacturing sites. We were amazed to find that there is enough organic pro duce grown within the city limits of Havana to feed each of the city’s 2.5 million residents a min imum of 300 grams (about 10 ounces) of fruits and vegetables each day. Some of the urban fanners we met had left very stable profes sional careers to engage in agri culture for the first time. For in stance, we met a couple, a former veterinarian and chemist respec tively, who had originally switched to farming to keep their r... ,rki fraa^ l^ AMISHTOWN GENERAL STORE, LLC Hardware • Tools • Martin Senour Paints Sima ItiaKLLa CTsflffl OBOSTTICHI Nuts & Bolts By The Pound Animal Health Supplies 147-A Amishtown Rd. New Holland, PA 17557 Phone: 717*355*9400 Open M-F 6A M -6 PM Jhurs night till 8 PM, Sat 7A M -2 PM Express Wagons, Scooters, Trikes, Volleyball & Croquet Sets, Plumbing Supplies, Lawn & Garden, Air Compressors & Air Fittings SPRING AGUME APPUCAHON Don’t put it off, Put it on. • If you need aglime, you can’t afford to farm without it. • Martin’s quality aglime will effect your soil pH immediately after application Call now for delivery Martin Limestone Inc. Blue Ball, PA (800) 233-0205 (717) 354-1370 Martin LIMESTONE */»•»' > F children fed. They now make considerably more money farm ing than they had in their former careers, and each of them oper ates a separate private farm as part of a linger cooperative. Another strategy has been to divide large, previously state owned farms into smaller units, or Basic Units of Cooperative Production (ÜBPC), as they are called. Our group visited one that employed 55 farmers working a total of about eight acres, with each of the farmers earning ap proximately four times the na tional average wage (to keep things in perspective, the national average is the equivalent of about $lO U.S. per month). This is achieved despite the fact that such farms must first provide, as part of their social obligation, food for local schools, hospitals, and nursing homes before selling on the open market. The key to success of urban ag riculture in Cuba is that the farms are located in the same neighborhoods as their custom ers. For instance, the ÜBPC we visited maintains a modest road side stand that serves between 4,000-5,000 people from the local <A <% An experimental dairy farm at the Agrarian University of Ha vana, where students from 77 countries worldwide have grad uated. These cows can graze year-round, but in this picture are also being fed sugarcane as a replacement for silage. Re search at the university has determined that the most effi cient size for a dairy is 20 cows. A Basic Unit of Cooperative Production (ÜBPC) on the outskirts of Havana. Eight acres of ground supports 55 farmers at a relatively high standard of living and serves as many as 5,000 people each day. Note that the apartment dwellings of customers are lo cated literally next door to the farm. community each day. This par ticular farm has also diversified its operation to include several value-added products through both nursery sales and a process ing kitchen. In ..addition to the food-for schools obligation mentioned above, which basically takes the place of property taxes as we know them, taxes are imposed on direct agricultural sales, though Lancaster Farming, Saturday, April 5, 2003-A23 the rate decreases dramatically for produce sold in urban areas. Most Cuban farmers own their land, sometimes collectively, or are engaged in permanent lease OsraEs Fixed-Rate On Qualified New John Deere 8010 and 8020 Sertes Whoel and Rack Hectors. See your dealer mjtetails. 0.9% 16% 2.3% 4 YEARS 5 YEARS 6 YEARS Fixed-Rate Fixed-Rate Fixed-Rate For a short time only, John Deere is offering great rates up to six years on select 8010 and 8020 Senes John Deere Wheel and Track Tractors. See your John Deere dealer today for details! To find out about other great finance incentives, go to mm. TimeToßuy. JohnOeemCfeditcom or call (800) 468-8516, Ext AGIO3. Don’t wait) Offer ends April 30,2003. Olfir mk! thnwgh April 30,2CX13 RmnangoOwstiwy be in Veil o( other Incenßws, Offais good m ttw U SA only and ire subject to John Deere Credit approval See yoi»pertdp«tin|) John Deere deeler for dews CS John Deere CREDIT CHOI 10148 Uhl n US A, (03 02) (Turn to Page A3O)
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers