By: Radio Angulo

The municipality of Mayari is charting an ambitious course to strengthen food sovereignty in Holguin province. With the presentation of the 2026 Rice Planting Program. The proposal for this year is to plant 750 hectares. Which would allow for the production of more than 1,000 tons of rice for consumption. Also with an estimated yield of 2.84 tons per hectare. According to a publication on the local government website.

If the contract commitments are met, with 50 percent of the production destined for the mill of the Agro-industrial Grain Business Unit. The municipality could guarantee around 530 tons of rice for consumption. An amount that would cover approximately 18 percent of local demand.

In the recently concluded spring planting season, a record 425.5 hectares were sown. Yielding 524.5 tons of wet paddy rice and 265 tons of table rice. This demonstrates the true potential of this Holguin region when organization, production experience, and collective will converge.

During Hurricane Melissa’s passage through Holguin in late October 2025, approximately 195 tons of rice were lost. But beyond the figures, the leading role of the popular and productive movement stands out. This movement, comprised of farmers, cooperatives, and agricultural centers. It sustains the program under complex climatic and economic conditions.

This effort confirms the crucial role of diverse production methods in feeding the people.

However, to ensure that the rice produced reaches the tables of Mayari residents. So, it is necessary to strengthen state and community control over contracting, procurement, and marketing. To overcome difficulties related to the limited availability of mechanized harvesters. Cuba, on its path to food sovereignty, will expand its rice-growing areas by planting 200,000 hectares of the grain this year.

Published Date: January 4, 2026