Cuba: hurricane damage not insurmountable

Cuba: hurricane damage not insurmountable

Tholen - On the Cuban citrus plantation UBGPC Citrícola 30 de Noviembre,
field manager Vicente Pérez Noa expected a crop of only 8200 MT, because
of the damage caused by hurricane Charley last year. However, the crop
turns out to produce 9100 MT. When the organisation is efficient and
personel works disciplined and motivated, the damage may be contained,
according to Vicente.

Of the acreage of 779 ha, only 100 ha is irrigated. Also the
availability of fertilizer is limited and one has to adapt to these
circumstances, for example by cutting down weeds manually with machetes.
Other issues are harder to overcome and explain however, such as the
fact that there is no phone line available at a production location
employing 298 people, which for a major part come from other provinces.

Publication date: 22 June 2006