BREAKTHROUGH

by Arnaldo Coro, Science Editor

Hello, and welcome to Breakthrough, RHC's Science, Technology and the Environment update. I am Arnie Coro, RHC's Science Editor, and as always, it is my pleasure to bring you news and commentary about these fascinating subjects. Today, I'll tell you more about Cuban urban organic agriculture and how people are now coming from other countries to learn from this unique Cuban experience.

Cuban organic urban agriculture efforts really picked up after 1991, according to statistical analysis. The areas inside cities and towns devoted to agricultural production grew several times in the short period between 1992 and 1997, providing the population with fresh vegetables at reasonable cost. The urban agriculture program today is aiming at the FAO objective of providing each person with no less than 300 grams of fresh vegetables every day, the figure which is considered ideal from a health care point of view.

Instead of taking synthetic vitamins and minerals, Cuban physicians say, the best thing a person can do from a nutritional point of view is to eat no less than 300 grams, or about three quarters of a pound, of fresh vegetables every day. Organic urban farming today is already reaching this target in several Cuban municipalities, and in others, it is making a substantial contribution to that goal. Organic urban farming makes very efficient use of whatever plot of land is available, is a source of employment for many persons, and provides fresh produce with zero transportation costs, so it is a really environmentally sound approach. Among the most popular crops are tomatoes, lettuce, onions, cabbage, and carrots.

The national urban agriculture program provides technical advice, high quality seeds, and a phyto-sanitary service. It also helps the urban agriculture local programs with crop rotation, the selection of adequate organic fertilizers and the production of earthworm organic fertilizer, one of the other success stories which will be soon featured here at Breakthrough.

Although the urban agriculture program national directors are not yet pleased with the results, there is no doubt that they have achieved a lot in their goal of promoting the rational use of the land, the use of organic farming methods and the development of national awareness of the need for a healthy and balanced diet.

And this was Breakthrough for today, an update on the progress of the national urban organic agriculture program that is now reaching, in some Cuban cities, the milestone of providing 300 grams of fresh vegetables daily to each and every person.

From Havana, I am Arnie Coro, Radio Havana Cuba's Science Editor. Your comments about this program and today's topic are most welcome; send them to arnie@radiohc.org

Broadcast Sunday, June 11, 2000

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