Cuban province implements new drip irrigation system

The Horquitas agricultural company, the largest productive entity in the central province of Cienfuegos, is advancing in the plantain planting project with the support of drip irrigation, a new system for Cienfuegos, although known for its efficiency in other productive areas of Cuba.

Delia Rosa Espino Ramos, deputy director of that entity, told the Cuban News Agency that the 120 hectares (ha) where they will plant the very resistant plantain seeds, which are grown in the territory's seed reproduction centers, are now being ploughed.

He assured that in order to undertake the investment they assumed the experience of entities from Ciego de Avila, where they have made great progress in the use of this irrigation methodology.

Espino Ramos said that they will soon start planting the first 40 hectares of this line, and will continue gradually to reach the planned goal by late July.

Although the entity, located in the municipality of Abreus, has water in its phreatic mantle, the pumping of the areas is not achieved to the maximum due to the current deficits of electric energy, hence these activities are transferred to night hours, or when electricity is available.

This company has an irrigation system with Kubans machines for the crops with the highest demand of H20, such as potatoes, vegetables and malanga.

Jesus Negrin, specialist in the activity of Seed Production of the Delegation of Agriculture, added that within the Horquitas project they will plant the varieties of banana fruit FHIA 25 and FHIA 01, as well as in those corresponding to the lines of viands they will plant the Plátano Burro and FHIA 21.

He added that this is an investment amounting to some 25 million Cuban pesos, in addition to the remaining financing in foreign currency, thus saving water and nutrients by irrigating only the root of the plant, as it is very efficient.