Cuba takes action to boost food sovereignty

 Given that the Food and Nutrition Sovereignty Act (SSAN) has met obstacles since it came into force in October 2022, an action plan has been devised to improve the results of the relevant work teams.

Mayra Cruz, legal director of the Ministry of Agriculture (MINAG), said that most of the regional programs have failed to become self-sufficient despite their potential to meet consumer demand in terms of root and garden vegetables, fruit, small livestock and fish.

In addition, the provincial and municipal commissions have little knowledge about the regulations, which paves the way for delays, unsupported debts with producers, workers and suppliers, and lack of compliance between the registered figures and the actual stock available.

“Therefore,” the official remarked, “we took a number of steps to solve these problems effectively, including the updating of the National Commission's plans, the improvement of the local food production systems, and a prioritized system to ensure the fulfilment of the production and import substitution programs to foster socioeconomic development in rural and mountain settlements and farming communities”.

The SSAN Act governs the organization of sovereign and sustainable local systems based on a cross-sectional and inter-institutional structure designed to regulate food production, marketing and consumption.