Overview of nrcs cons info exchange with cuba
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The Natural Resources Conservation Service conducted an information exchange with Cuba in December 2016. A team from NRCS visited Cuba and met with Cuban agricultural officials to discuss soil conservation, irrigation, drainage, and organic agriculture. They observed examples of soil conservation practices used in Cuba and issues they are facing related to soil degradation. The Cuban officials expressed interest in learning more about rainwater catchment and subsurface drainage. The exchange highlighted successful organic agriculture in Cuba including urban farming and small rice production.
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Overview of nrcs cons info exchange with cuba
- 1. International Programs Division Natural Resources Conservation Service International Programs Division Natural Resources Conservation Service Overview of NRCS Conservation Information Exchange with Cuba Lillian Woods Shawver, Director
- 2. International Programs Division Natural Resources Conservation Service Overview • NRCS International Conservation Program • Lessons Learned through Cuba Information Exchange
- 3. International Programs Division Natural Resources Conservation Service • Travel Documents for NRCS International Travelers • Managing Foreign Visitors Meetings with NRCS Employees • Technical & Scientific Exchanges International Conservation Programs
- 4. International Programs Division Natural Resources Conservation Service NRCS Historic Trip to Cuba Improved Relations with Cuba MOU between USDA and Cuba Ministry of Agriculture (CMAG) 3 USDA Agencies conducted Information Exchanges Information Exchange only “Fact Finding” & Introductions: Agricultural and Regulatory Systems Technical Assistance is not permitted (Department of State/U.S. Congress) NRCS Interdisciplinary Team / Trip: December 12-15, 2016 Soil Conservation, Irrigation and Drainage, Organic and Urban Agriculture Meetings with CMAG and institutes; field visits in Havana Province
- 5. International Programs Division Natural Resources Conservation Service International Programs Division Natural Resources Conservation Service NRCS Conservation Information Exchange with Cuba TDY Team John Tiedeman Agricultural Engineer NRCS California Redding, CA (530) 226 - 2501 John.Tiedeman@ca.usda.gov Chayla Rowley Civil Engineer NRCS Colorado Steamboat Springs, CO (970) 879 - 3225 Chayla.Rowley@co.usda.gov Linda Scheffe Conservation Agronomist NRCS National Soil Survey Center Lincoln, NE (402) 437 - 5351 Linda.Scheffe@lin.usda.gov
- 6. International Programs Division Natural Resources Conservation Service Historic NRCS – Cuba Encounters 6 “Probably in no other country of the world has soil character had stronger influence upon national welfare than in Cuba. The wealth of the island has been derived directly and almost wholly from its varied soils.”
- 7. International Programs Division Natural Resources Conservation Service International Programs Division Natural Resources Conservation Service Soil Conservation and Management Approximate Area Affected by Soil Degradation Process Total Area Affected (millions hectares) % of Ag area affected Salinization 1 14.9 Erosion 2.9 43.3 Poor drainage 2.7 40.3 Poor internal drainage 1.8 26.9 Low fertility 3.0 44.8 Compaction 1.6 23.9 Acidity 1.7 24.8 Very low organic matter content 2.1 31.8 Poor water retention 2.5 37.3 Rocky 0.8 11.9
- 8. International Programs Division Natural Resources Conservation Service Soil Management Alternatives Used Recycling sugarcane and other residues as organic fertilizers cachaza (filter cake mud) liquid residues from sugar processing industry liquid residues from alcohol distilleries liquid residues from citrus industry
- 9. International Programs Division Natural Resources Conservation Service Field Visits to Havana Province
- 10. International Programs Division Natural Resources Conservation Service Polygon Demonstrations
- 11. International Programs Division Natural Resources Conservation Service Polygon Demonstrations
- 12. International Programs Division Natural Resources Conservation Service Examples of Soil Conservation practices such as terraces, some with perennial grasses (Vetiver and King Grass) to reduce slope length and disperse concentrated runoff.
- 13. International Programs Division Natural Resources Conservation Service Field Visits
- 14. International Programs Division Natural Resources Conservation Service Example of publication that addressed irrigation water requirements, system design, flow measurement, wells, and pumps in detail similar to NRCS field manuals.
- 15. International Programs Division Natural Resources Conservation Service Areas of interest expressed by our Cuban colleagues due to more dramatic weather variances: (1) rainwater catchment & (2) subsurface drainage.
- 16. International Programs Division Natural Resources Conservation Service Successful Organic Agriculture Experiences Urban Agriculture – Produce sold at Farmer’s Markets Medicinal Plants – Growing trend toward rediscovering the use of “green” medicine for the prevention or cure of various diseases. Small Rice Production – Produce rice in small plots to ensure family consumption and sale of surplus production.
- 17. International Programs Division Natural Resources Conservation Service Organic and Urban Agriculture Successful urban and organic agricultural movement in Havana; Production of fresh food in any unused spaces within the urban perimeter using agroecological techniques, biofertilizers and biopesticides. Nutritional value displayed for consumer information.
- 18. International Programs Division Natural Resources Conservation Service Takeaways
- 19. International Programs Division Natural Resources Conservation Service THANK YOU! ¡GRACIAS! “Those who want to work, find solutions; those who don’t, find difficulties.” – Oar Playa Organopónico Mural
- 20. International Programs Division Natural Resources Conservation Service International Programs Division Natural Resources Conservation Service USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. To file a discrimination complaint, write to: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call Toll-Free at (866) 632-9992 (English), (800) 877-8339 (TDD), or (866) 377-8642 (English Federal Relay). Lillian Woods Shawver Director (301) 504-2269 Lillian.Woods@wdc.usda.g ov International Programs Division Natural Resources Conservation Service U.S. Department of Agriculture 5601 Sunnyside Avenue Beltsville, MD 20705
Editor's Notes
- International Conservation Division provides Agency leadership on International Conservation Programs. Main activities the Division provides are: NRCS has long history of support of technical exchanges internationally. From early years of exchanges on various conservation topics to conducting soil surveys to Provincial Reconstruction Teams to recent Haiti Pilot Soil Survey.
- The TDY Team held meetings with the Soil Institute where they learned the issues Cuba was facing includes erosion, salinity, compaction, and advances made in urban and organic agriculture. In their meeting with Agricultural Engineering Institute, they learned the issues of concern included drainage, salinity, drought, and advances in surface irrigation and energy conservation.
- 1920s - Hugh Hammond Bennett participated in the Soil Survey for Cuba and recommended crop diversification and soil conservation. Beginning of soil conservation policy. NRCS recently learned Cuba Celebrates July 7 as Soil Conservation Day. Cuba Deputy Secretary of Agriculture wrote “This is in memory of Hugh Hammond Bennett, a renowned man of science who wanted to increase the production of the land through greater resource protection and worked to raise awareness of the benefits of appropriate management.”
- Cuba has approximately 6.6 millones de hectáreas of Agricultural land, of which at least 76.8 % is affected by a limiting factor (erosion, acidity, low fertility, salinity, compaction and poor drainage. (Instituto de Suelos, 2007). In response, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (CITMA) established new laws and programs for soil conservation and environmental protection. CITMA also established the National Environmental Program and the National Environmental Strategy, both of which include soil conservation and recovery as priority areas. They implemented alternatives to maintain and improve soil fertility. By combining traditional methods with modern science, Cuba implemented major alternative programs such as the use of residues from the sugarcane industry, biofertilizers based on microorganisms, large-scale production and utilization of earthworm humus, composting, green manures and various soil amendments.
- The Cubans have placed much importance on biodiversity, biofertilizers, biopesticides, and using locally available resources. Due to the drastically reduced availability of chemical inputs, Cuba replaced them with locally produced, and in most cases biological, substitutes. This has meant biopesticides (microbial products) and natural enemies to combat insect pests, resistant plant varieties, crop rotations and microbial antagonists to combat plant pathogens, and better rotations and cover cropping to suppress weeds.
- The TDY team was able to visit farms in the Havana Province, including Guanabacoa. They were also able to see sugarcane plantations and tobacco operations in Artemisa.
- Field tours included a stop in Guanabacoa to Campo Monumental Finca Estrella, a state run farm of 19 hectares (12 fruit orchard and 7 agroforestry species). The slope was approximately 5 to 12% and erosion control included rock barriers, terraces with vetiver grass, and organic residue management. At present, 100% of the conservation practices are paid by the state (National Program for Soil Conservation and Melioration – NPSCM); however, there was interest in how NRCS provides cost share for conservation practices. There was some discussion on getting landowner buy-in and how money is tied to that. NRCS shared the idea of Plant Materials Centers which service several states which was of great interest to the Cuban counterparts. This polygon did have its own plant nursery, but some/many do not.
- Another stop was to UBPC Polygon, Cooperativa Victoria Uno 26 de Julio. An agronomy technician provides technical assistance to the polygon farmers along with other technicians from MINAG. This polygon comprised 1300 hectares and produces coffee, papaya, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and other fruits and vegetables. Contour farming and terraces (with kinggrass barriers) are several of the conservation practices used in addition to composting, vermiculture, biofertilizers, biopesticides, and surface sprinkler irrigation. They also raise roosters for authorized cock fights. Sprinkler irrigation is supplied via an engine-driven portable pump, PVC and polyethylene pipe, and above ground sprinkler risers.
- Field tours continued with a visit to CCS Efrain Mayor, with ANAP (National Association of Small Farmers), consisted of 30 hectares total between the son and dad. They had an elaborate greenhouse with drip irrigation growing sweet peppers using raised beds, and fertigation. Other crops grown include lettuce, cucumber, tomato, beets, as well as fruit trees, such as plantain and mango. Due to their agricultural success, the Cuban government is letting them farm another 14 hectares of state-owned property adjacent to their current operations. There are 25 farms in the cooperative; they share equipment and credit. Water and soil samples are paid for by MINAG. This is an example of more intensive farming, using inputs such as synthetic fertilizers and herbicides. Irrigation is provided from pond storage supplied by runoff as well as underground spring flow, and pressure for drip irrigation is supplied by a Soviet-built, electric, motor-driven pumping plant.
- The Cubans shared they are evaluating the balance between increasing production (intensive methods) and long term sustainability. While soil types/textures do vary, there were noticeable differences between the organic and intensive farms. We did share presentations and resources on conservation practices – they would like to exchange practices in a series of sustainable agriculture workshops with farmers and conservationists.
- This sign in a Farmer’s Market shows consumers the nutritional values of various fruits and vegetables.
- It was very impressive that at all levels (Ministry of Agriculture, municipalities, field, farmers, consumers) folks seemed to know what the food security plan was, their challenges and limitations, what their needed resources were to address the limitations, and what each of their roles were in providing a safe, healthy, and abundant food supply for them and even for the growing tourist industry.
- The Cuban people are such a hard working, sharing and social culture that we could see how they were able to achieve what they have in sustainable agriculture. Also, the fact that they did not have access to computers or internet for so many years may have been to their advantage in the way that they read books, studied and worked with each other in the field to develop solutions to the sustainability issues.