Oxfam helps boost sustainable agriculture in Cuba

Oxfam helps boost sustainable agriculture in Cuba
Source: XINHUA | 2013-5-3

HAVANA, May 2 (Xinhua) -- The international aid and charity organization
Oxfam has in the past two decades helped Cuba develop sustainable
agriculture by bringing irrigation technology and promoting clean energy.

Over the last 20 years, the Britain-based agency has invested
approximately 20 million U.S. dollars on dozens of development projects
in Cuba, media reported Thursday, citing Oxfam's representative in Cuba,
Beat Smich.

The renewable energy projects included building 218 windmills, biogas
digesters and solar panels, Smich said. The organization also
contributed by repairing more than 200 trucks and tractors and providing
15,300 agricultural tools and supplies, as well as instruction.

Smich particularly highlighted his agency's assistance to 78
agricultural cooperatives severely damaged by hurricanes Ike and Paloma
in 2008, and that has, as a result, increased their production of dairy,
meat and vegetables.

Oxfam maintains close ties to Cuba's National Association of Small
Farmers (ANAP), supporting its activities and printing publications on
good agricultural practices, he said.

The agency has been active in Cuba since 1993, at the request of the
island country, mainly in rural areas vulnerable to extreme weather and
climate change.

Oxfam, founded in Britain in 1942, is a confederation of 17
organizations working in 92 countries to alleviate poverty.

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