The Ministry of Agriculture (Minag) in the province of Las Tunas is working to increase onion cultivation by nearly 115 hectares more than was planned to gradually meet the demand of the population.
If it were possible to increase the area to the extent expected, the producers from Las Tunas could make available some 2,150 tons of onions to consumers, an amount that would maintain the stability of the supply in the markets.
To expand this important crop, producers first need a technology package that includes certified fertilizers and pesticides, as this crop is very vulnerable to high temperatures and plant diseases.
It is important to note that most of these commodities come from overseas markets and their acquisition depends on the financial capacity of Cuba.
Given that circumstance, the specialists from Las Tunas conducted an investigation and asked the central management of the Ministry of Agriculture to provide the new areas with the necessary resources.
As a result of the reorganisation of agricultural marketing in the country, illegal outlets and many informal sellers who didn't have the proper authorisation to sell the product, were closed down in recent months, which decreased the supply of garlic and onions in the province, located about 700 kilometres east of Havana.
The State is seeking to increase the availability of these products.
In the case of garlic, the situation is more favourable because the selected areas, seeds, and labour required for the production and sales of this item to the state system responsible for supplying the markets, are already in place.
Consumption of garlic and onion is part of the Cuban food culture. These products have also been widely used to prepare natural and traditional medicine throughout the Caribbean archipelago for centuries.
