The proposal, under the concept of ‘Sustainable Agro-landscapes’, promotes the conservation of natural resources and biodiversity in favor of productivity and resilience of agricultural systems in the chains of coconut, cocoa, coffee and livestock, said the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

The country’s Ministry of Agriculture and FAO are working in coordination on the project, with financing from the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

To this end, laboratory supplies will be purchased and made available to the Entomophagous and Entomopathogen Reproduction Centers (CREE) and germplasm banks, the source said.

According to the source, the purpose is to stimulate the production and obtaining of bioproducts and biofertilizers, integrated pest management and the sustainable use of biological diversity resources in production processes.

The purchase of inputs includes surgical tweezers for pollination, grafting tape, sample distribution carts, tanks, scissors and laboratory trays, FAO said.

Sustainable Agro-landscapes also includes a capacity building program for Cuban farmers to optimize the use of natural resources, reduce the environmental impact of agriculture and improve the quality of the food produced.

According to FAO, about 15,000 people will directly benefit from the implementation of the project, while another 60,000 inhabitants will be indirectly impacted.

With financing of more than 4.6 million dollars, the initiative helps six municipalities in three eastern Cuban provinces: Buey Arriba, Guisa and Bartolome Maso, in Granma; Guama in Santiago de Cuba; and Maisi and Baracoa in the province of Guantanamo, the entity indicated.

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