The harvest of tobacco 2018-2019 started with the seeding ceremony of this plant in Santiago de Cuba. The farming of this plant will be carried out in 300 hectares, assigned to tobacco production, of 4 municipalities.
Alcides Zaldívar’s tobacco plantation in Lázaro Peña ‘s Credit and Service Cooperative (CCS in Spanish) from Contramaestre municipality, was chosen to start the farming of this plant due to the efforts of the farmers who despite of high temperature and dry soils achieve high proficiency in the solanaceous plant.
Although it is his 3rd harvest in 2 hectares, Alcides acknowledge that the results are good because of the great care and dedication in the plantation from the seedbed.
Rubén Rodríguez, director of the provincial enterprise of tobacco highlighted, during the opening ceremony, the completion of tunnels for the production of plants, the benefit of the soils and the introduction of climate change-resilient varieties.
Contramaestre, almost 70% of the productions in the province, is the spearhead of this relevant economic activity of the country; followed by Palma Soriano, San Luis y Songo La Maya.
Mr Rodríguez said that in the current season the hectares increased in 11%. With that number of hectares, it is expected to collect 327.10 tons of leaves to meet the established guidelines of the development program until 2030.
Workers of the tobacco industry from Contramaestre and outstanding members of cooperatives as Rogelio Mora of the CCS Moisés Pompa, took part in the seeding process. The last mentioned is considered the best seed producer in the province and the one who commercialize the biggest amount of high quality leaves.