Environment

Organoponicos in Cuba

Apr

11

A must-read story about how a shortage in artificial fertilizers led to a 'grass roots' organic farming revolution in Cuba which is now able to feed the nation.

"It's very simple. We've moved to organics, not because we're Greenpeace members, but because we can't afford chemicals," Juan Jose Leon, an official at the Cuban Ministry of Agriculture, told me. "Everything we have gained, all the experience we have gained, we are not going to leave that behind."
To me the above quote is extremely telling. Before Hugo Chavez opened up the gas flood gates, Havanans had turned to bicycles but after the gas crisis was done they were straight back to cars. Not so with organic farming: they like it, it works and they are sticking with it.


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