Cuban Agriculture

Cuba's surface consists of almost equal areas of arable land, pastures, meadows and forests. As a result of tree felling during the first centuries, new extensions of agricultural land emerged. Although most of these lands are in State hands, from the 1990s on, the number of small private farmers has considerable increased, contributing largely to the population's food supply.

Many years after the introduction of sugarcane by Columbus, it became the main agricultural crop, on which Cuban economy was thoroughly based. All in all, the land devoted to the sugar industry accounts for 350 000 ha. Although the revolutionary government attempted to put an end to monoculture from 1959 on, sugar remained the fundamental export for many years to come. Sugar constitutes the basis for several other byproducts such as molasses, out of which the famous Cuban rum is obtained; the bagasse, or rest of the cane is made into cellulose, paper and board. Even though the production of sugar diminished considerably in the early 90s, it remains at present on an average of 3.5 million annual tons.

Not only did Christopher Columbus discover the tobacco plant in Cuba, but also the cigar as such. The aborigines smoked it through reeds or by rolling the leaves into a bundle. This habit found its way to success in Europe, which favored the establishment of the Spanish monopoly on tobacco trade. Today tobacco and cigars are an important element to the Cuban economy. 70 000 ha are allocated for tobacco cultivation on the island, largely in private farms. To achieve the best quality product, great care and intensive labor are the keys. The biggest tobacco-producing areas are to the west and the center.

Coffee grows in Cuba's mountainous areas located in the eastern and central regions. Though it is a fairly good product, it doesn't occupy a prominent position within the country's exports, due to low production levels and the difficult conditions of accessibility to cultivation areas.

Though fishing has not traditionally been a national industry in Cuba, it was granted a greater role from 1959 and today it provides greatly to the population's food supply; even more important is fishing as an economic export. The county positions itself as one among the two largest lobster exporters in the world. The creation of a fishing fleet contributes to the annual catch with some 20 000 types of different species, above all from international waters. The main fishing ports are located along the southern coast of the island.