AGRICULTURA Y LA CIUDADcommunities and urban agriculture in havana, cuba

Overview

Background History Reactions to the Crisis Benefits and Critiques

Framework Thomson/Freudenburger 2007

Case study Parque Metropolitano de la Habana

Long Term Sustainability Changing Cuban Economy Urban Planning

History

In the early 60’s the United Stated of America tried to crush the revolutionary spirit of Cuba with the most comprehensive trade embargo in history.

To survive Fidel Castro established powerful trade relationships to the Soviet bloc.

85% of Cuba’s trade was with the Soviet block

Agriculture imports included: 57% of Cuba’s caloric intake 80% of all proteins and fats

80% of all fertilizers and pesticides In 1989, Cuba ranked 11th in the Overseas

Development Council’s Physical Quality of Life Index, which includes infant mortality, literacy, and life expectancy.

History

In 1989 the Soviet block began to unravel Imports dropped by 73% This situation was intensified by:

the implementation of the Cuba Democracy Act of 1992

the signing of the Cuba liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act / Helms-Burton Act of 1996

tightened the existing trade embargo that prevented American or American-friendly countries from selling food or medicine to Cuba

Reactions to Crisis

A resurrecting of agriculture Began to transition from conventional, high-input, monocrop

intensive agriculture to smaller organic and semi organic farms

Agriculture transportation was reduced or eliminated due to the sacristy of oil.

Havana has a population of 2.5 million The post-Soviet crisis incited a massive popular response to

the shortage of food, first in the form of gardening in and around the home and then government action to convert all vacant lots to properties of food production.

This government effort was facilitated by the Cuban Ministry of Agriculture and more specifically, the Urban Agriculture Department

By 1998, there were over 8,000 officially recognized community gardens in Havana, cultivated by more than 30,000 people and covering approximately 30% of the available land.

Reactions to Crisis

Garden sites were established in close proximity to the gardeners’ households.

Land for gardens is obtained through the “Poder Popular” at no cost

Gardeners provided food for their families, gave a significant portion to childcare centers, hospitals, and needy community members, and sold the remaining produce for profit.

Many Urban areas now produce up to 60% of all Cuban vegetable production

Cuba has become practically the only country in the world to begin implementing a bio-logical pest control program on a national scale

Over 200 centers have been set up There are over 173 established vermicompost centers,

which produce 93,000 tons of natural compost a year using worms.

Benefits of Urban Agriculture

Availability of food In Havana production of fresh vegetables

and herbs has reached 150g and 200g respectively per capita per day.

Vacant lots are used productively 100,000 new jobs have been generated Rich variety of crops have become

available to communities This benefits the environment and promotes

a nutritional culture Empower People and build community

Critiques of Urban Agriculture

Conducting organic activities does not mean that they are sustainable

High irrigation demands Food Theft Insufficient research has been done on toxic

elements that may be present in leafy-green vegetables if crops are located in places with high motor-vehicle concentration

Smaller farms are less productive

Parque Metropolitano de la Habana

700 ha plot of “greenspace” within urban Havana

Surrounded by economically, culturally and racially diverse neighborhoods

Established “to create an ecologically, economically and socially sustainable park for the enjoyment of Havana’s residents” Create a “green lung” carbon sink for the city Provide an example of sustainable landscaping Promote economic development

Parque Metropolitano de la Habana

Framework

Thomson and Freudenberger 1997

Characteristics of the Resource Food and Nutrition

Agricultural Production Potential Soil Fertility

Nutrients Contamination

Water Climate Availability

Characteristics of the Community User Groups

PMH Agroforestry Farm Nguyen Van Trói Credit and Service

Cooperative Small lots used by individual producers

Characteristics of the Rules

Government support/regulation of urban agriculture projects Free use of unoccupied, government-owned

land for farming project Must fit government standards and

expectations Control of markets for sales

Credit and Service Cooperative Structure Local Economic Structure

Incentives

PMH Agroforestry Farm Consistant salary Environmental remediation Government support/resources

Nguyen Van Trói Credit and Service Cooperative Shared resources Provides source of credit for farmers

Small lots used by individual producers Few incentives to sustainable land use

Choices

Where to grow? Government land Soil Quality Relation to

market

Outcomes

Incredibly large, relatively efficient output of food for local consumption

Establishment of large urban green space Movement towards self-financing and

management Dependence upon government programs

Subsidy of supplies Production quota

Minimal Economic Incentive for Sustainability Failure to improve soils Limited Crop diversity

Outcomes Ctd.

Little Coordination Between Actors Multiple user-groups in a singular space

with specific goals and restrictions Is urban agriculture an appropriate

component of the park’s greater objectives?

Looking Forward • Sustainability Changing Cuban Economy

Renewal of imports Oil and chemical fertilizers/pesticides Effect of farming technique

Flight of workforce Increased availability of alternate

Urban Development and Farming Threatened agricultural land The role of urban farming in planning and

land management

Sources

Cruz, María Caridad, and Roberto Sánchez Medina. Agriculture in the City: A Key to Sustainability in Havana, Cuba. Ottowa, Canada: International Development Research Center, 2003.

Mougeot, Luc J. A. "Moving Between the Plan and the Ground: Shifting Perspectives on Urban Agriculture in Havana, Cuba." Agropolis: the Social, Political, and Environmental Dimensions of Urban Agriculture. London [u.a.]: Earthscan, 2008. 153-86. Print.

WARWICK, HUGH. "Cuba's Organic Revolution." Forum for Applied Research and Public Policy 16.2 (2001): 54. Academic OneFile. Web. 8 Apr. 2010.

Altieri, M., N. Companioni, K. Canizares, C. Murphy, P. Rosset, M. Bourque, and C. Nicholls. 1999. The greening of the "barrios": Urban agriculture for food security in Cuba. Agriculture and Human Values 16:131-140.

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