Leodermis Dormis Hipólito, known as Boisán, is an outstanding farmer of the Cooperative of Credits and Services of the municipality of Contramaestre who has solar panels for irrigation, house lighting and water supply.
For this agricultural engineer, who has now become a usufructuary, it is important for his farm to diversify production and comply with the contracts for the destinations agreed upon each year.
How much benefit is there for farmers to have solar panels for food production?
“These solar panels save fuel, they save electric energy in the case that you put an electric motor. It is welfare for the farmer because imagine a farmer who has light 24 hours a day through solar panels.”
“If that were to happen, that would be the happiest farmer. I am happy with panels or without panels because thanks to this (Cuban) Revolution, look at my color, engineer. I have managed several enterprises in the country and finally I am devoted to food production.”
“That is my happiness, that makes me feel good”.
In the case of these solar panels, what irrigation possibilities do you have in the areas you have?
“This irrigation system can be established in two hectares but I have the pipeline to irrigate five hectares because a crop, let’s say beans, you water it today and in four to five days you irrigate it again but in that interval you have the possibility to irrigate other crops such as corn, pumpkin, sweet potato, cassava”.
“In this way you achieve more areas with the same irrigation possibility”.
Do you have electricity to light the house?
“I have electric light in my house. I have a television, a refrigerator, in short, I have what a farmer in this country should have without causing high fuel costs and preserving the environment”.
Leodermis Dormis Hipólito or popularly known as Boisán in Contramaestre is one of the 7 farmers of this municipality in the province of Santiago de Cuba who have benefited from solar panels to produce more food and improve the living conditions of the rural man.
