The Organiponico in Alamar (2)

I have previously blogged about a visit I made to the UBPC Organiponico in Alamar last year. That time around I foolishly forgot to take a camera. This time I was a bit smarter.

According to the information I was told on this visit that prior to the Cuban revolution one hectare of sugar exports to the US paid for 3 hectares of corn and maize imports. Such was the favourable terms of trade with the US. Following the revolution the Soviets stepped in to provide similar favourable trade deals. The demise of the Soviet Bloc ushered in the Special Period and the economic-social crisis that followed. Oil imports from the USSR slumped from 24 million tons to 3 million tons, Cuba also lost acces to annual imports of 2 million tons of animal feed, 1 million tons of fertiliser and 25,000 tons of pesticides. This crisis gave birth to the UBPCs and urban farming in Cuba.

Some brief statistics regarding work at the organiponico. I previously noted that the typical wage at the organiponico is somewhere around 2-3 times the average Cuban wage. The amount will vary of course depending on income generated by the enterprise. The working day is 7 hours long. Free breakfast and lunch are provided to every worker and interest free micro loans are made available. There are around 170 workers at the UBPC with about 1/3 having technical or higher education. The surplus product generated by the UBPC is split into halves – 50% is reinvested in social projects, tools and plant and education and research. The other 50% is spread amongst the workers. Income for workers is a combination of monthly wages and ‘dividends’ from ‘shares’ they accumulate in the UBPC. These shares are allocated in increasing blocks over a 15 year period. Apparently, unlike UBPCs that resulted from the break up of old state farms, the UBPC organiponicos/urban gardens do not have to provide a % of their produce to the state for the Libreta ration system. They are free to sell their produce directly to the public.

27 acres (roughly 10 hectares) in total are under cultivation at various times through the year. The UBPC utilises around 400 species of plants in production – as produce for direct sale and consumption, processing for medicinal purposes, processing into various preserves and condiments, for biological and insect control, as cover crops and fodder for animals. This provides for a diverse eco-climate. The UBPC breeds its own predatory insects. Some manure for fertiliser is sourced directly on site, other manure must be sourced from external sources.

The two pictures in the gallery show the mission statement, vision and values of the UBPC. Something that I found interesting about these statements is that they reflect a commitment to food production, which is natural given the enterprise, but also some commitment to consumers. This occupies at least an equal position with any statement about commitment to work. Cuban socialist rhetoric is thick with statements regarding the value of work and peoples role as workers. This UBPC recognises the needs of consumers and peoples role as customers. This reflects well, I think, the earlier blog I made about a feasible Cuban socialism which must recognise workers preferences in production as well as their preferences in consumption.

The mission statement is roughly translated as “The services we offer are outlined in our statement of purpose. Satisfying the needs of feeding the population/community and offering a wide variety of vegetables, sauces and condiments, medicinal and ornamental plants.  Our practices are organic and strengthened with scientific and technical application. We offer technical assistance and training nationally and internationally”.

The vision statement reads (roughly) “To be a leading co-operative enterprise of production and associated services within Cuba and a place-point of reference-learning internationally”.

The shared values statement reads (roughly) “Commitment to the UBPC and Cuba. Professionalism, honour, timeliness, discipline and hospitality”.