A report on the website of the Ministry of Agriculture (MINAG) and IFAD stated that this initiative, designed for six years, will also contribute to build resilience of smallholder farmers in the country’s eastern region to climate change.

With an initial investment of 42.5 million dollars (from IFAD funds and Cuban contributions), the project should climb 63.65 million dollars once further contributions from international donors materialize.

As previous IFAD projects in the country have proven, investing in cooperatives is the most efficient way to tackle the problems of low productivity, poor equipment and lack of economic opportunities, IFAD’s Country Director for Cuba Juan Diego Ruiz said.

PRODECAFE will strengthen food security and improve the living conditions of rural families in Cuba’s eastern provinces of Granma, Guantanamo, Holguin and Santiago de Cuba by increasing the production and sales of agroforestry products, mainly coffee and cocoa, and reducing their vulnerability to extreme weather phenomena.

Since IFAD resumed its operations in Cuba in 2013, the Fund has invested in three projects, included PRODECAFE, with a total value of nearly 170 million dollars and benefitting more than 40,000 rural families.

pgh/iff/oda/crc