Cubans boost farming to fight post-storm shortages

Cubans boost farming to fight post-storm shortages
Posted on Thu, Sep. 18, 2008
The Associated Press

HAVANA --
Cuban media says more than 5,000 people have applied to farm idle plots
of government land as the island struggles to recover from hurricanes
Gustav and Ike.

The Communist Party newspaper Granma says 5,515 Cubans requested farm
plots on Wednesday, part of a program to boost food production that is
being sped up after the twin hurricanes devastated Cuban farms this month.

The communist government also is under pressure to reduce food imports
expected to cost $2 billion this year. It hopes that letting thousands
of private farmers operate on state land will be the answer.

Landless Cubans can apply for about 33 acres, while existing farmers can
increase their holdings to 100 acres each.

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/691676.html