Cuba to plant 22,000 hectares of tobacco

[El Presidente]

22000 would be double last years planting. 

Cuba to plant 22,000 hectares of tobacco

CUBANEW/ACN 

12 JUNE 2024

 

PINAR DEL RIO, Cuba, Jun 11 (ACN) During the tobacco campaign 2024- 2025, which should begin next October, Cuba aims to plant some 22,000 hectares (ha) of the main exportable agricultural product.

According to Marino Murillo Jorge, president of the Tabacuba Business Group, in spite of the increase in import costs, the resources are in better conditions than those of the last period, since, for example, 50 % of the fertilizers and a considerable part of the phytosanitary products are already in the country.

He explained that 14,300 hectares were planted in the 2023- 2024 season, and although the expected yields were achieved, they were below the estimates.

As a novelty for the upcoming campaign, the producers of sun stick tobacco and second-rate vegas will receive a part of the remuneration in foreign currency, a claim that has been demanded for several years, he said.
Pinar del Rio, the largest tobacco-producing province on the island, will assume in the period the plantation of 14,000 hectares, a territory in which the tobacco growers had to sow tobacco and rebuild the houses of the priest that were destroyed by Hurricane Ian.

Murillo Jorge highlighted this effort and specified that some 5,000 houses have been completed, while another 3,000 remain to be built.

The world market continues seeking tobacco, so we have to produce more," he added, "to contribute to the national economy.

We continue working on the producers' development program and the priority lies in the people in the land, so that they can work in more humane and efficient conditions, the president of the Tabacuba Business Group pointed out, since the Business Group aspires to export between 70 and 80 million cigars.

[NSXCIGAR]

He explained that 14,300 hectares were planted in the 2023- 2024 season, and although the expected yields were achieved, they were below the estimates.

Cuba--the land where you can simultaneously meet expectations but be below estimates. 

[BettyHumpder]

I mean, I'll take any good news even if it's couched in BS.

[SUP8333]

More cigars for everyone!

[Jimmy2]

Well they increased the prices on cigars 10 fold!! Still can't believe how much everything went up in price! Still in shock! They better do something positive with all that extra money! Maybe they will lower there prices over time with more production and overstock! Dream, baby Dream!

[GerardMichaelTX]

So their growing season is from October to March? Or do they have multiple gowing seasons? Do they rest the soil as you would for rice or can they grow multiple crops of tobacco on the same plot year after year? I know tobacco cultivation is pretty intense on the land but I am not certain about the normal growing practices.

[NSXCIGAR]

15 hours ago, GerardMichaelTX said:

So their growing season is from October to March? Or do they have multiple gowing seasons? Do they rest the soil as you would for rice or can they grow multiple crops of tobacco on the same plot year after year? I know tobacco cultivation is pretty intense on the land but I am not certain about the normal growing practices.

The traditional period for planting is Nov and harvesting in Feb. That's now just a guideline and many farmers will plant in Dec or Jan depending on several factors. If the Nov-Feb schedule is chosen there's usually a second planting from roughly Mar-Jun. This second harvest is going to be lower quality as the soil is more depleted than for the first harvest.

The soil is supposed to be rested but that hasn't been happening for a long time--probably at least 7 or 8 years based on what I've seen and heard. Everywhere else alternative crops can be grown which don't utilize the same nutrients that tobacco does allowing soil replenishment, however those crops aren't always available to the farmers in Cuba nor might they pay well enough. It's usually more profitable for the farmers to keep pushing out sub-optimal tobacco than it is to have the land fallow for a season. If Tabacuba paid the farmers enough this wouldn't be an issue.