The blockade imposed by the United States on Cuba is our main obstacle to development, but we must overcome inertia, said Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) and President of the Republic, in a meeting that he held today with the key authorities and leaders of Pinar del Río.
This blockage is real and cruel, so we condemn it in all scenarios, but there is another one that is mental and we must remove it to move forward, he stressed.
We need to think about how to innovate based on knowledge and not stand still in the face of difficulties in order to improve prospects and create a productive and thinking base for development, he stressed.
Accompanied by Manuel Marrero Cruz, Prime Minister of Cuba, and Roberto Morales Ojeda, Secretary of Organization of the Central Committee of the PCC, the President inquired about the possibilities of increasing the production of goods and services in the current calendar and of influencing increase in the quality of life of the Population.
Read here: Díaz-Canel chairs meeting with Pinar del Río authorities (+photos)
He pointed out that the first thing to be developed in Pinar de Río is agriculture; because “in addition to tobacco, you have to grow food.”
He called for using the availability of water, changing crops, producing fallow land, which here covers about 14,000 hectares (ha), and consolidating agroecology.
Yamilé Ramos Cordero, member of the PCC Central Committee and first secretary in the province, delved into specific aspects such as food production; the housing program; hydraulic networks for water supply; industry development; the contributions of science and innovation; confrontation with crime, illegality, abusive prices; in other aspects.
Among the main shortcomings in the area, he mentioned difficulties slowing down the housing program, the still poor application of regulations in the business system, and insufficient measures to combat inflated prices.
In order to change the current economic, social and political situation in 2023, Vueltabajo plans to work in 12 strategic lines and 39 programs to promote food sovereignty, tobacco production, tourism and export increase.
We need to create environments that are more efficient, more competitive and that generate more goods and services for the population in the corporate sector, said Ramos Cordero.
Agriculture, one of the priorities of the territory, presents us with great challenges; In this sense, Yoel Hernández Acosta, delegate of the sector, specified that more than 10,000 tobacco cleaning houses damaged by Hurricane Ian should be built.
This will allow productive engagement to resume seeding 16,000 hectares of the leaf in the next competition, he said.
Key crop-yield measures that characterize the westernmost province include the application of organic matter with a view to resuming export shift volumes and the use of renewable energy with the goal of reducing diesel usage in The Virginia Tobacco Case.
He indicated that this year they will introduce the cultivation of soybeans in Pinar del Río, with the availability of seeds to start this practice on 100 ha.
He also noted that the agroecological potato plantation has recently been completed with almost 20 hectares of this modality and another 30 hectares in the traditional way.
Currently, he said, they are identifying development areas to bring into production, which will have a positive impact on feeding local people and creating jobs at those locations.
Manuel Marrero Cruz, Prime Minister, stated that joint efforts and collective intelligence will help solve the problems; “that the municipality fulfills its main task: to satisfy the needs of the population”.
We live in different times, so we have to look for different solutions – he stressed – while it is essential to strengthen the pillars and functioning of government.
Jesús Alberto Gorgoy, director of development of the provincial government, said that for this year 22 local development projects have been approved, still insufficient for the territory’s potential, with solid alliances in this regard.
The Cuban President added the importance of studying territorial development strategies together with the University Hermanos Saíz Montes de Oca in Pinar del Río.
Morales Ojeda called for promoting unity and scrapping conformism in an area where there are reserves and potential for growth, he assured.
Our people are waiting for solutions. Results would have to be achieved with better discipline, planning and organization than before, he added.
Díaz-Canel expressed that every time we overcome a problem, we get a victory and that’s how we have to work.
It doesn’t look like a hurricane has hit this town; While we are aware of the housing issues, effort and dedication have propelled recovery in a short time, he assured.
He also called for work in the fifth province, where they are assessing the areas’ potential to achieve a better year in all areas.