Rome, October 20, 2020.- The Minister of Agriculture of Cuba, Gustavo Rodriguez Rollero, delivered a statement yesterday during the High-Level Roundtable: “Reflections on the Strategic Framework and the results and priorities of FAO, and the adjustments due to COVID19”, carried out during the 36th Regional Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) for Latin America and the Caribbean #LARC36.
The Cuban Minister announced the approval of Cuba's Food Sovereignty and Nutrition Education Plan, which lays the foundations for a more accelerated development of Local Food Systems and Territorial Development. He also stated that the Ministry of Agriculture works, in conjunction with various agencies and other ministries of the country and with FAO, in the preparation of a bill that legally supports this Plan.
Rodríguez Rollero assured that “Cuba works with intensity and highest priority in the approval of public policies to develop food production, and emphasized that the agricultural sector implements 24 actions or measures as part of the Economic and Social Strategy approved to face the current crisis of the world economy as a result of the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Minister denounced the economic, commercial and financial blockade of the United States against Cuba, “which causes us great limitations in the acquisition of productive inputs, food and financing to implement the development that we have projected in the sectors of agriculture, livestock and forestry". He added that “… our farmers are looking for national alternatives to produce and make investments, and we have set the goal of at least ensuring the population's food, replacing 50% of the imports we make, and steadily increasing exports of agricultural, livestock and agroforestry products”.
The 36th FAO Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean, is taking place between October 19 and 21, in virtual mode, with the presidency of Nicaragua. The FAO considered this Conference as the one with the greatest participation, with 33 member countries, 457 government delegations that include Heads of State, 51 ministers, all the ministers of Agriculture in the sector and 37 organizations of the United Nations, also inter-American bodies and others. More than 5 thousand followers are following the Conference on the networks.
The Cuban delegation is made up of the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Cuba to the International Organizations in Rome, José Carlos Rodríguez Ruíz, the Counselor, Rebeca Cutié Cancino, as well as officials and experts from the Ministry of Agriculture of Cuba.
Cuba and FAO develop several cooperation projects and programs in the areas of agriculture, food and climate change. FAO celebrates the 75th anniversary of its foundation this year. (@CubaONURoma)
