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BACKGROUND

Whilst in Cuba in September last year, I looked at several organiponicos in the city of Havana. When the USSR broke up and ran out of resources dedicated to supporting Cuba through sugar imports, a shortage of fresh food put the country in crisis mode. The government decreed that vacant land in the CBD could be put to use by communities to grow fresh vegetables. They were set up as collectives and the produce was used to supply the immediate community through a stall at each site, and excess distributed to local schools and hospitals. 

 

The manager of this organiponico gave us a tour of the site and showed off the range and quantity of produce that comes from an area the size of 2 football fields. He was reticent at first but once relaxed, he displayed pride in the success of this venture. He explained that the Organiponico not only sold food to locals, but also provided food to the local primary school and a hospital. There was a queue of people at the shop. The method of growing is organic and the chickens and worms provide the fertilizer for the crops. The garden is close to self sufficient but for its reliance sometimes on water supply. 

 

 

 

Left: Lush herbs bed in Organiponico, Havana, Cuba

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