For decades, Guantánamo’s attempts to grow potatoes have ended in disappointment. The latest effort, yielding just 4–5 tons per hectare—far below the acceptable minimum of 10 tons—highlights systemic issues plaguing Cuban agriculture: poor timing, insufficient resources, and lack of mechanization (Venceremos, 2024).
Root Causes of the Disaster
- Late Planting & Poor Soil Preparation
- Optimal planting time in Guantánamo is November to avoid April rains, yet farmers planted in January, leading to rot and losses of 30–35% (Fernández, 2024).
- Soil must be prepared two months in advance to eliminate pathogens, but rushed land prep worsened disease susceptibility (Díaz, 2024).
- Mechanization Failures
- Borrowed, malfunctioning equipment forced manual planting, reducing efficiency.
- An improvised “picker” plow left potatoes buried, requiring double passes and further damaging yields.
- Resource Mismanagement
- Late seed delivery skipped disinfection protocols, increasing disease risk.
- Irrigation instability further reduced productivity, with some areas completely lost.
Broader Implications for Cuban Agriculture
Guantánamo’s struggles mirror nationwide challenges:
- Ciego de Ávila & Sancti Spíritus face delays and distribution crises, with state-set prices (11 pesos/lb) vastly lower than black-market rates (150–200 pesos/lb) (Cuban Agricultural Ministry, 2023).
- Santiago de Cuba rations potatoes at 3 lbs/person, exposing deep food insecurity.
A Path Forward
Farmers Díaz and Fernández argue potatoes can succeed in Guantánamo—if:
– Plant in November with proper soil prep.
– Ensure timely irrigation and phytosanitary treatments.
– Invest in real mechanization, not makeshift solutions.
Guantánamo’s potato failures are not inevitable but a result of recurring systemic neglect. Without addressing planning, timing, and resource allocation, Cuba’s potato production will remain a symbol of scarcity rather than food security.
