Cuba, ALBA Bringing Back Rice

Cuba, ALBA Bringing Back Rice

Havana, Apr 5 (Prensa Latina) The Cuban rice production complex "Ruta
Invasora" may be restored with the support of a project coming from the
Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA) between Cuba and Venezuela.

Ruta Invasora is located in the central province of Camaguey, and is
trying to recover much of its cultivation areas currently infested with
the weed marabu and others.

As part of the agreements signed by Havana and Caracas, resources for
specialized production of rice, including machinery, instruments and
spare parts to remove undesired vegetation in the areas were allotted.

The mill produced 24,000 tons of rice at the beginning of last decade,
but the financial limitations of the island affected cultivation and
many of the fields were invaded by marabu.

Idelino Alvarez, director of the complex, specified that the recovery of
productive levels will be facilitated when they get the new resources.

The main investments are projected in machinery for preparation of the
land and crops, drying equipment for the mills and transport, as well as
to road maintenance and attention to rice communities.

Besides the projects financed by ALBA, an initiative to which Bolivia
and Nicaragua belong, the rice complex is benefited from agreements
subscribed with Vietnam.

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PL-5

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