Oxfam helps boost sustainable agriculture in Cuba

Oxfam helps boost sustainable agriculture in Cuba

Source: XINHUA | 2013-5-3



HAVANA, May 2 (Xinhua) -- The international aid and charity organization

Oxfam has in the past two decades helped Cuba develop sustainable

agriculture by bringing irrigation technology and promoting clean energy.



Over the last 20 years, the Britain-based agency has invested

approximately 20 million U.S. dollars on dozens of development projects

in Cuba, media reported Thursday, citing Oxfam's representative in Cuba,

Beat Smich.



The renewable energy projects included building 218 windmills, biogas

digesters and solar panels, Smich said. The organization also

contributed by repairing more than 200 trucks and tractors and providing

15,300 agricultural tools and supplies, as well as instruction.



Smich particularly highlighted his agency's assistance to 78

agricultural cooperatives severely damaged by hurricanes Ike and Paloma

in 2008, and that has, as a result, increased their production of dairy,

meat and vegetables.



Oxfam maintains close ties to Cuba's National Association of Small

Farmers (ANAP), supporting its activities and printing publications on

good agricultural practices, he said.



The agency has been active in Cuba since 1993, at the request of the

island country, mainly in rural areas vulnerable to extreme weather and

climate change.



Oxfam, founded in Britain in 1942, is a confederation of 17

organizations working in 92 countries to alleviate poverty.



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