Cuba supports planting of fruit trees and forest species

Havana, May 31 (Prensa Latina) The Climate Resilience in Cuba's Agricultural Ecosystems (IRES) project continues to accelerate the country's productive restoration of 35,000 hectares of degraded soils invaded by exotic species, FAO announced on Wednesday.

May 31, 2023
13:08

A press release by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) stated that the goal is to implement forestry, agroforestry, and silvopastoral systems.

To support this goal, 222 manual augers and seven underground drills coupled with tractors will arrive in the country this year, the note pointed out.

The equipment will be used in areas currently invaded by marabou weed, where the initiative will plant 8,167 hectares (ha) with multipurpose forest plantations.

It will also plant 1,754 ha with agroforestry systems, cedar intercropped with other forest species, and 2,529 ha with fruit trees and fences.

FAO has begun to purchase the augers and drills that will allow them to do more precise work in planting trees by ensuring greater agility in drilling.

The IRES project started in 2020 and will be implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture (MINAG) until 2027, with technical assistance from FAO and funding from the Green Climate Fund.

ef/iff/mem/rs