Natural
Environmental Ecological Management (NEEM)
614 Shepherd
St., Durham,
NC
27701
(Office)
2001 Chapel Hill
Rd., Durham,
NC
27707 (Retail and
Nursery)
Phone:
919-321-6111
Email: neem@mindspring.com
Internet:
www.neemtree.org
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
North Carolina Sustainable Agriculture Delegation in Cuba
Two
peoples with one passion separated only by distance and
politics
The
North Carolina delegation to
Cuba has
returned from a most successful research trip. Led by NEEM and hosted by Dr.
Fernando Funes, we were exposed over the seven day period to the agroecological
system in Cuba
from A - Z.
I half
jokingly mentioned that there are as many Ministries and affiliated groups in
Cuba as there are Oricha (the numerous deities of a prevailing religion,
Santeria) which on first appearance seemed daunting in size and scope to imagine
being effective. The group learned quickly that it was a collective, each with a
specific task constantly updating each other on results like dripping water that
fills the pot. We have much to share in
presentations to our community in the same spirit.
What did we
learn?
That since sustainable agriculture is possible on a country level in
Cuba that it is
also possible in North Carolina on
a State wide level. That farming is food science, an art, an honorable
profession that is available to us in the States as a resource for sustainable
economies in the urban sector. The
U.S. is not all
that different than
Cuba, we too are
a consumer society with all of our industry gone and Agriculture the largest
left that must be preserved. Our community’s notion of local is best is
strengthened and that the small local system works, less susceptible to
problems, and is nutritionally and ecologically sound with the lowest
environmental impact and a positive effect on the carbon footprint.
Some
highlights of the trip:
Dr. Fernando Funes and his
staff at ACTAF briefed us on the system. This set the tone for the days ahead
allowing the delegates to get a basic understanding of the model. We were
honored and forever grateful to Fernando, the father of Agroecology in
Cuba, for taking
the time to be with us daily. Fernando, his late wife and son Fernando II are
Agroecolgical giants in
Cuba. My first
meetings with Cuban officials in the mid nineties were in
Washington with Gustavo Machin at
the Interest Section. We discussed infrastructure and I expressed a fear of
potential change and return to conventional systems once relations between our
countries were resolved. The delegation left knowing now that measures are in
place that will prevent that. This was most important to know.
Organoponicos (large and small
inner city farms) – referred to as “Basic Unit of Cooperative Production”
(UBPC) litter inner city Havana.
They provide sustainable economies and an enormous percentage of dietary
requirements of the Cuban people are met through production and distribution. We
saw several but the largest (and one of the most productive and successful) was
Organoponico Alamar, run by Director
Salcines in Vivero neighborhood. Alamar is a completely self sufficient
operation with no chemical inputs with acres of raised beds, greenhouses,
composting and vermi-composting, micorrhizes, livestock, biological controls,
vegetable and ornamentals etc. Alamar’s success is a reflection on a large scale
of the other smaller but similar operations hiring roughly 130 people with
classes, restaurant, gift shop and vegetable stand on site.
Indio Hatuey Research Station - founded in
the sixties, this is the most historic but one of many places established for
research in a rural setting. Hatuey is in the
province of
Matanzas. All work here is based on
diversified agroecological systems. Research covers every aspect and
investigates various crops, silvopastoral concepts (mixed crop and livestock),
organoponic, microorganisms, silk worm (sericulture), forage grasses, lawn
grasses, bioenergy, complimentary and companion growing, most efficient
complimentary crop rotations, nitrogenification through legumes, Integrated Pest
Management etc. with tests sites and field tests throughout the property. All
information developed here is shared with other stations and passed down country
wide to the smallest operation in the rural and urban agroceological sectors. We
could have spent days here.
Foods Conservation Community
Project - “Vilde and Pepe’, old friends I had not seen for 8 years who are
devoted to food preservation, solar drying, canning/bottling, condiments,
preserves and an undying gift to the community by this devoted couple to
fostering Traditional Cuban Cuisine and maximum utilization of products
produced. They spread a spirit of sharing in educational projects throughout
Cuba and the
global community.
Villa Hortensia – farmer and
Agroecological artist par excellence Idalio Mederos. Words cannot truly relay
what we witnessed here. Idalio has taken Villa Hortensia to a level that can
only be described accurately in a slide or power point presentation. His farm is
a visual and artistic Garden of Eden producing ornamentals. No natural stone was
left unturned here, every step a visual pleasure right up to the most artistic
compost pile I have ever seen. Idalio is what we would all like to be, off the
grid, no computer, making his own charcoal, completely self sufficient, humble
with an enormous heart. Hortensia lies outside
Havana in the Artemisa
municipality.
“El Grupo
Magnifico”
The
delegation was diverse and comprised of North
Carolina farmers, academics representing 4 major
universities, NC Department of Agriculture, fund resources, Non Profit Groups,
Agricultural and sustainable community consultants. Fernando Funes, our driver
and Joe (our interpreter). Most were members or affiliated with CFSA and CEFS. A
few were out of State invitees and either current or future collaborators with
NC. We were professional, family and will work together in future
collaborations; here and in
Cuba. All had
determined early on to share our mutual information, pictures and presentations
gathered with our communities here in the States. I think I can speak for the
group in that our desire is the same spirit of cooperation and sharing for the
greater good that left an indelible mark on all of us.
We thank in addition: CATEC, UBPC’s, Indio Hatuey,
CTA’s, INIFAT, ICAP, MINAGRI, Idalmis Nazco,
Alina Martin, Ivis Cárdenas, Roberto Caballero, Egidio Perez, Director Salcines,
Osvaldo Franchialfaro, Giraldo Martin, Dr. Odalys, Dr. Iglesias, Idalio Maderos,
Luis Ortega, America and Carlo, Eng. Diaz, Eng. Rodriguez, Vilda and Peppe, Dr.
Perez, Dr. Vazquez, Dr. Febles, Dr. Orellana, Dr. Funes Monzote II, Dr.
Rodriguez-Nodals, Dr. Companoni, Dr. Cruz and Roberto Sanchez; the Hotel
Nacional and its staff and the people of Cuba.
Jeffrey A.
Ensminger
Executive
Director
NEEM
