Tobacco production expands in Ciego de Ávila and Sancti Spíritus

Tobacco production is seeing significant growth in Cuba, particularly in the Ciego de Ávila province. For the current campaign, 1,240 hectares have been contracted, an increase of over 424 hectares compared to the previous period. The Empresa Agropecuaria Florencia reported a record sale of 714.3 tons in the recently concluded campaign, up from 407.3 tons the year prior, with a target of 1,404 tons for the upcoming stage.

Despite these gains, officials noted challenges regarding efficiency and yields. In Ciego de Ávila, some producers failed to harvest after planting or reported low yields. Félix Duarte Ortega, president of the National Association of Small Farmers (ANAP), emphasized the need for peer-to-peer analysis to address these issues, given the high cost of foreign currency used for inputs.

In Sancti Spíritus, discussions focused on the need to recruit more farmers to the sector ahead of the 2026-2027 campaign. Marino Murillo Jorge, president of the Tabacuba business group, highlighted incentive programs designed to assist producers, such as allowing up to five years to repay costs for curing house components, fertilizers, irrigation systems, and machinery.