ABSTRACT
The strategies put into place by the Cuban government to cope with the crisis are taken for granted from within the country, but from an outsider's perspective they provide a unique global example of a different socio-political approach to improving food security. Through an innovative and pragmatic mix of measures and mechanisms in its agricultural and food sectors, Cuba managed to turn around a serious and nation-threatening crisis. It reduced its dependence on imported food and inputs and, although food aid and subsidized imports were still necessary, the country moved closer to meeting national food needs domestically over the longer term, all the while maintaining an equitable social food programme under extreme resource-limiting conditions. Major changes put in place by the state, or developed by lack of choice, included:
development and maintenance of human and social capital
joined-up political will across sectors
development of subsidiarized food action plans
partially controlled food distribution and social safety nets
mandate for local, regional and national self-sufficiency in production
substitution with organic production techniques: biological pest and disease control and fertilizers, farm diversification, rotations and intercropping, increased use of draught power, and training in agro–ecology
enabling of land access from household to farm level
development of a strong urban agriculture movement
encouragement of urban to rural migration
diversification of accessible markets and food sources
raising of farm gate prices
shortening of market chains
downsizing of large farms
reconnection of farmers and workers to land
government investment in agricultural research, extension and training
increased postharvest efficiency
national autonomy over food imports, exports and international relations.
