Farmers in the municipality of Contramaestre have enthusiastically joined the development of the popular rice program. Aware of the difficulties they face in advancing their productive purposes, they are introducing alternatives to chemical products, planting the best varieties and using agro-ecological techniques in an effort to reach 188 hectares of this basic grain.
In spite of the difficult conditions in which the agricultural activity is carried out, the popular rice program does not stop in the municipality of Contramaestre, where 88 hectares of the popular basic grain have already been planted.
Some seventy producers are involved in the activity, including the “Ruta Invasora” Credit and Service Cooperative, which belongs to the AZCUBA sugar group. In addition, the UBPC “El Encanto” and “La Mantonia” stand out, the latter with a productive balance, aimed at the consumption of its workers.
Coordinated by the Grain Enterprise in the province of Santiago de Cuba and advised by the Grain Research Institute, the popular rice program in Contramaestre counts on the enthusiasm and know-how of independent producers where women stand out for their results.
Due to its high yields and easy adaptation to the climatic and environmental conditions, the short-cycle Reforma variety has spread in this Santiago municipality, with an agricultural yield that exceeds 5.7 tons per hectare in the wet season and 7.5 tons per hectare in the dry season.
Although still insufficient due to the high demand for this product, the Contramaestre rice growers do not plan to stop the development of the program, which aims to achieve a total of 188 hectares planted.
