-DATE- 19920518 -YEAR- 1992 -DOCUMENT TYPE- -AUTHOR- -HEADLINE- Castro Gives Closing Speech at ANAP Congress -PLACE- CARIBBEAN / Cuba -SOURCE- Havana Cubavision Television -REPORT NO.- FBIS-LAT-92-100 -REPORT DATE- 19920522 -HEADER- ======================================================================= Report Type: Daily report AFS Number: CM2205035792 Report Number: FBIS-LAT-92-100 Report Date: 22 May 92 Report Series: Daily Report Start Page: 4 Report Division: CARIBBEAN End Page: 14 Report Subdivision: Cuba AG File Flag: Classification: UNCLASSIFIED Language: Spanish Document Date: 18 May 92 Report Volume: Friday Vol VI No 100 Dissemination: City/Source of Document: Havana Cubavision Television Report Name: Latin America Headline: Castro Gives Closing Speech at ANAP Congress Author(s): President Fidel Castro at the closing session of the Eighth Congress of the National Association of Small Farmers, ANAP, at the Havana Palace of Conventions on 17 May- recorded] Source Line: CM2205035792 Havana Cubavision Television in Spanish 2130 GMT 18 May 92 Subslug: [Speech by President Fidel Castro at the closing session of the Eighth Congress of the National Association of Small Farmers, ANAP, at the Havana Palace of Conventions on 17 May- recorded] -TEXT- FULL TEXT OF ARTICLE: 1. [Speech by President Fidel Castro at the closing session of the Eighth Congress of the National Association of Small Farmers, ANAP, at the Havana Palace of Conventions on 17 May- recorded] 2. [Text] Comrades: We have often talked about historic events. So, for example, we recall the congress of the second front, of which Prudencio [not further identified] has said that some were unhappy that it was being called the first armed congress [primer congreso en armas]. But, well, later there were congresses that were not armed, but this one, as he said, is a kind of armed congress. 3. This congress is taking place precisely during the special period, at very difficult times of the special period. At this time, when the food issue has taken on enormous importance, this congress of the ANAP, of all the farmers, is taking place. The ANAP has a very great share in food production, and this share could be even greater, because food production is based on three pillars: the state enterprises, the agricultural-livestock production cooperatives [CPA], and the independent farmers. Two of these pillars depend on the ANAP. They are part of the ANAP. 4. We could also discuss whether it is correct to call it the ANAP, but it is already called that and no one is going to change its name. Even Pepe [not further identified] had his doubts, and once-I think I have mentioned this before-he said to me: Look, Fidel, this name, ANAP, is it correct? Because to say the National Association of Small Farmers may sound like the farmers are little tiny people. I said: Well, if we do not call it the ANAP [Asociacion Nacional de Agricultores Pequenos], it will be called the ANPA [Asociacion Nacional de Pequenos Agricultores], the National Association of Small Farmers, and that name is even worse. 5. These names really have the meaning that the people give to them, that opinion, custom, and habit give to them. When we talk about small farmers, we are not talking about little tiny farmers, but rather about farmers who do not have a lot of land, farmers who are not large landowners or large estate owners. We are talking about farmers who work a certain amount of land that is not very large. But the ANAP also includes the cooperatives now. They are not exactly small pieces of land. There are a lot of cooperatives that have more than 100 caballerias. Of course, it was always thought, we upheld the view, that the cooperatives would remain within the ANAP. In fact, the cooperatives today are the pride of the ANAP. 6. Of course, all these factors, as I was saying, are two pillars of agricultural production. We must boost the agricultural production of the state enterprises, but we must also boost the agricultural production of the CPA and the independent farmers. If any one of these pillars lets us down, our table will be incomplete; it will be missing a leg. The efforts we are making in other directions will be wasted if any of these pillars lets us down. If farmers of the CPA and the independent farmers make an effort but the state does not make an effort, we will not accomplish anything. The state has a great share; it has considerable land resources. If the CPA does not make progress, this will also neutralize or eliminate the advantage of the efforts we are making with the state and the independent farmers. If the independent farmers reduce their production or do not make progress, this will also affect the food program. 7. This is because the independent farmers have a good share of production, larger in some provinces than others. But they have an important share. In many crops, their share is very important. The importance of the independent farmers has been pointed out here. The CPA and the independent farmers together have a great share. That is why this congress of farmers in the special period is so important, and this is why we say that it is a historic congress. But it will not be a historic congress solely because of the circumstances in which it is taking place. Rather, it will be a historic congress because of the consequences that will follow from this congress. 8. To a certain extent, the agricultural workers have participated in this congress, because the leading agricultural officials have been present here. The officials that oversee the small farming sector have been present. Not all the provincial officials of the Ministry of the Sugar Industry [Minaz] came, because we asked them to remain overseeing production. We did not think five or six days should be wasted, or that they should be absent from their provinces at such an important time for the sugar harvest and the planting of different crops such as rice, pasturage, and sugarcane. Especially because of the final stages of the sugar harvest, it did not seem like a good thing to us that the Minaz officials should be here. 9. We had already held a number of festivities. We had the 1 May celebrations, at a critical time. Fortunately, a lot of people worked on 1 May. But a few days later, we had Mother's Day. Fortunately, a lot of people also worked on Mother's Day. But all these events weakened our efforts a little. Sometimes people are demobilized, or leave, and then fewer have to return on Monday, especially after a great effort such as was made in agriculture in April. Of course, some harvests were late because the planting had been late because of the weather. We are in a situation in which we cannot waste a day; we cannot waste a minute. Since it has rained little in recent days, we must take advantage of this to prepare the land that has not been prepared, and we must prepare a lot of land for the sugarcane, pasturage, tubers, vegetables, and rice. Everything will become much more complicated if we do not use the time well, if we do not use the days and hours well. 10. Of course, we said that the farmers' congress should not become another off-period, and therefore that the Minaz officials should not come. But we also said that the agriculture officials should not come either, except those from Havana Province, who should be here the first day. But the deputy officials who oversee the small farming sector did come. The representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture also came from all the provinces. All the provincial party secretaries have been present, the first secretaries. It was essential that they be here, because even if they do not oversee agriculture directly, we must take into account the role the party plays in all these mobilizations, in creating the conditions so that the programs can be carried out. In addition, there is the enormous political importance of the ANAP congress, which is not only an agricultural event. Not at all; it is an event of the greatest political importance, since the farmers are one of the pillars-they were, are, and will be one of the fundamental pillars-of the revolution. [applause] 11. So the agricultural workers, the government representatives who are involved with agriculture and other activities, and the party representatives have also been participating in this congress. In general, they participate, but right now this has greater importance than at any other congress since the victory of the revolution. This is because of this congress's political importance as well as its economic importance, and also because of the content of the analyses that have been made here. 12. I have the impression that you are very pleased with how the congress has been held. It has been very serious. I think the discussions have never before been so responsible and serious. I can say even more: I think that at no other time have the discussions been so patriotic. This is because we are all aware, very aware, of the time we are living in. People expressed themselves so categorically and energetically as never before about what the revolution has meant to the farmers. Because we can see this very clearly at times like this. In normal, calm times, when there are no problems or headaches, these things are present, but are not so obvious. If the nation is in danger, if the revolution is in danger, if socialism is in danger, everyone brings up the memory of the past very strongly and energetically, and they bring up the awareness of what the revolution has meant to the people and the farmers. 13. This has been seen here very eloquently in the words of many of you. We have not heard more because time was short, and we had to devote it to the different topics. We had to give the different sectors of agriculture the opportunity to speak. But I have really been very impressed by what has been said. I can say that all your remarks have been very serious. Some were more inspired or eloquent than others, but all had good content and great value. Some people are more fluent speakers than others, but all of you had many things to express. Even those who became nervous, as they said, were still touching on very important issues. 14. But this congress has been what we could call a scientific and technical congress, because a lot has been said about what must be done and how it must be done. All the knowledge and experience of the farmers has been reflected here. Many of the things explained here about what has been done in the special period are impressive. Since the start of the special period, many cooperatives and many farmers have been producing more with less fuel and fewer resources. This fact shows that in effect, in the special period, we can produce more with less fuel and fewer resources. That is our great victory. Here you have been explaining how this has been done, how this has been accomplished. 15. You have spoken about ox teams. This was traditional among the farmers, but it has increased a lot. The country had fallen into excessive mechanization. Everything was done with machines, and now we have to use other means of work and transportation. Many cooperatives, many independent farmers, and also many state enterprises are increasingly using oxen for animal labor, and 100,000 are already at work. Another 100,000 are going to be added. We cannot even guess how much fuel this will save. 16. There is also the problem of the distribution of bicycles at the sugar mills, the agricultural enterprises, and to the small farmers. A certain number have already been given to the farmers, but they will receive additional bicycles. It has been calculated what this saves in trucks, fuel, tires, and tractors. The bicycles can be used to do many activities that today are done with tractors and trucks. But if I remember correctly, I think about 250,000 bicycles are going to be distributed this year in the rural areas, in the agricultural sectors of the country, to workers, cooperative members, etc. This is in addition to those that have already been distributed. There will be about 250,000 additional bicycles. 17. This shows how our people, citizens, and fellow countrymen have the ability to adapt to difficult times. This is very important. A nation that cannot adapt to these difficult circumstances will be lost. This nation has never been lost. It has experienced extremely adverse historical periods, over the course of more than a century, and it has passed through very sad episodes, such as the famous Zanjon Peace. It has passed through things as terrible as the Yankee intervention during our last war for independence, when Spain could no longer fight. There was something even sadder: the disbanding of the army of liberation, the surrender of weapons, and the Platt Amendment, on the right to intervene, which ratified and legalized the most shameless intervention, almost on a daily basis, by the United States in our country. 18. But our people arose from each of these difficult eras, as we will also arise from this difficult era. What you have said is very encouraging, because it shows what can be done. Here, for each of the subjects, specific things and specific techniques have been presented in the production of tubers and vegetables, what to do and how to do it. Many experiences have been recounted. You were able to observe here that the conditions are not the same throughout the country. There are differences of climate, soil, both the composition of the soil and the topography, the climate, microclimates, and some useful experiences in some places may be useful in many other places but not everywhere. Some experiences in certain provinces are useful there and not in other places. This shows us that life is rich, life is very complex, and we cannot simplify things. 19. You also talked about varieties of sugarcane and how they grow. A variety does not grow the same in one place as in another. This is true also for tuber varieties, or vegetable varieties. Here we can very clearly see the importance of the work by researchers and the need to seek varieties for each kind of plant that will be adapted to the country's climate, soils, and regions. We know that there are a number of new kinds of yucca that are very good and can be harvested at different times. 20. Yucca is a noble crop, especially in dry climates, because it does not need a lot of water. It can be kept in the ground; it does not need refrigeration. If you have different varieties, they can be harvested at different times. There are peak seasons in agriculture, but the country's needs do not have peaks. They are the same throughout the year. There are times when potatoes are abundant, but then there are no more potatoes. Then we need boniato, yucca, malanga, plantains, and other products, and they are not all produced at the same season of the year, or planted in the same season of the year. 21. It is not the same to harvest during the dry season as during the rainy season. One's hair stands on end when one thinks about how boniato must be dug up when the soil is very wet. Sometimes boniato must be dug up almost by hand. But you have to harvest boniato in June, July, August, September, and October in the rain. You cannot use machines if it is wet, and sometimes it rains quite a bit. You cannot use machines. 22. So the work is not the same throughout the year either. Sometimes the weather makes things easier, the level of humidity makes things easier or complicates things. But, well, boniato and yucca are noble crops. A hurricane cannot destroy them, and if you have them there they are secure. You can stagger their planting, but you can also diversify the varieties in order to have these foods throughout the year, or to have more than one kind when others foods are scarcer. 23. We know, of course, that yucca does not keep very long once it has been pulled out of the soil; it has to be distributed quickly. It is not like other tubers. 24. We have another very noble tuber, plantains, which produce all year round and precisely are happiest when it rains a lot and is hot. You heard here the explanation by the comrade from the (Monpie) cooperative about how in those extremely humid hills [words indistinct] harvest of plantains that they planted there. Where it is very difficult to grow other things, they grow plantains. It is constantly wet there. One could say that there is a sort of natural microjet irrigation system there in (Monpie). 25. These experiences were discussed here. Our knowledge has been enriched. Science and technology was discussed, as was azotobacter, biological pesticides, and biological fertilizers, resources this country must turn to. But the need to find solutions has led us to evolve into a scientific congress. You heard everything that was discussed in connection with sugarcane. 26. Manolo, the comrade from the Quivican cooperative, talked here about the importance of different varieties. It was acknowledged here that for years time was undoubtedly wasted at the research centers in the work on varieties. The intense work being done in that field now was also explained. However, I wonder if small farmers elsewhere in the world have the depth of knowledge that our small farmers have, if they can hold discussions about the different varieties of cane and about the appropriateness or inappropriateness for different regions of the different varieties of cane. 27. The stock structure of the cane was discussed here, as well as how the bitter need for, or scarcity of, fertilizers and fuel-which is a factor even in such decisive things as irrigation-has reduced the availability of cane in these years and has forced us for one reason or another to cut almost down to the last stalk of cane, affecting something as important as the composition of the stock. The problem is that working under conditions as tight as the ones we are working under, we cannot allow ourselves the luxury of leaving 20,000 caballerias of canefield lying fallow till next year when this very year we have pressing needs for foods, medicines, fuel, raw materials, and other things. These needs do not permit us right now, at this moment, to wait until the following year. 28. The country has commitments, demands, and needs. In this regard, the cane farmers have cooperated generously with the nation, just as the state enterprises have had to do, and the agro-industrial complexes as well, because they too wish to have an ideal stock composition. 29. We have to see how we can compensate for these obstacles. We spoke here of how the application of ammonia is becoming widespread because it is the most economical way of getting nitrogen to the cane. The 22 bases we have ready were discussed, and the 16 more that are being built with the idea of reaching 50 and possibly 60. It was also said that in a not too distant future we may perhaps be able to apply nitrogenated fertilizer via ammonia to almost 80,000 caballerias of regrowth, which means a considerable reduction in the cost of ammonia and a very good way of applying nitrogen. It has been said here that this even diminishes the effect of certain cane pests. All these technical things were discussed. Information on these matters was given. 30. Planting one crop with another was much discussed, with the rotations of cane, and how to plant beans in the cane fields in the cold season. Normal beans can help keep the cane clean, produce food, and bring natural nitrogen to the soil, nitrogen that is fixed by the bacteria associated with legumes, thereby increasing the cane yields. Also discussed were the existing programs that are being implemented, on a small scale as yet so as to see their results, for rotating soybeans with cane in the same year, planted in the spring. 31. We also discussed the search for different varieties that we have been making, and about the varieties currently being planted. There are a number of such varieties, which are believed to be suitable for spring planting. If we did not plant them in the spring and planted them in January instead, we would need water, irrigation, and we would lose a year in the sugar harvest. We would be producing soybeans at the expense of sugar, at the cost of producing less sugar. However, if we manage to plant these soybeans in the spring, we would be producing food and at the same time increasing cane yields, saving fertilizer, and sparing ourselves imports. That is why we have been thinking about this formula of planting soybeans in the spring. 32. Comrade Adolfo of the INIFAT [Institute for Basic Research in Tropical Agriculture] talked to us about Cuban Variety No. 23 which they are developing for the spring, and he says it is pest-resistant. The truth is that the two Matanzas cooperatives that have experience in planting soybeans have warned us about the risks of pests, based on their experiences. These pests sometimes become uncontrollable in soybeans planted in spring. This is not so with soybeans planted at other, dryer, times of the year. This was a very important warning, which set us all to thinking yesterday, because we are looking for varieties for the spring. We must see whether or not these varieties are pest-resistant. This is very important. It does us no good at all to have varieties that can resist the heat or the rains or other factors but not pests. 33. However, we also discussed yesterday, and at some length, black-eyed peas, the traditional and the other kind, and their qualities and possibilities. Today, we were talking with the comrades from the Agriculture and Sugar Industry Ministries about the need to quickly multiply those 40 or 50 quintals that Adolfito now has. We have to turn them into thousands and thousands of quintals by May of next year. Because we must now plant them quickly and even plant them in some areas with soybeans if necessary, in order to increase the seeds. We must also plant them in tobacco areas in the provinces, and harvest all the seed we might grow, and set aside a little in reserve-one must always set aside a little in reserve, for botanical reasons and for reasons of security-but plant the maximum, now, in May. We would plant again in September and October, and plant again in January. 34. If we are not successful with soybeans, because one year might be successful because it was dryer while another year might be less successful... [pauses] We have to be ready to do rotations with these beans. It has been determined that they can also be very useful in rotation with tobacco. The comrade from the Los Palacios cooperative, who is undoubtedly a very capable and smart comrade, immediately saw the possibility of rotating tobacco with this bean. Just yesterday, an experimental project was begun-it resulted from this meeting-to study different formulas for maximizing the quality and quantity of the tobacco crop. In other words, what we said was useful for sugarcane will probably be very useful and practical for other crops. 35. Tobacco is not actually planted in the spring. Sugarcane may be planted during the spring or during the winter. Cane that is planted well in the winter yields more than in late spring; you know this perfectly well. This is why, even if we were to fail, we should never give up on soybeans. We can continue the rotations until a type of soybeans is found which can withstand not only the heat and the rains but also pests. Even if we only plow them under, if we cannot harvest all of them, what has to be done immediately is to multiply the seeds we have. We have to multiply the black-eyed pea seeds that we have. We should not give up on the idea of the rotations. This may end up improving sugarcane agricultural methods by planting fewer caballerias in the spring and planting more caballerias in the winter. All these technical ideas were discussed yesterday. 36. It was very pleasant to listen to the experiences of the sugarcane cooperatives. It was very pleasant. You can tell that they are knowledgeable. It was very pleasant to hear about the livestock units, and the use of sheep on sugarcane cooperatives to graze on the edges of the fields, and how sometimes, when the sugarcane is high, they can even graze between the stalks. They also discussed the use of geese in some of these tasks. Geese have been introduced recently. They have not been raised more because of the problem of feed costs, but their numbers could be increased if it is necessary and if we find a highly productive use for geese in certain crops. We could have more, but meanwhile it is highly encouraging to hear that sheep are being used on the sugarcane cooperatives and that there are 100,000 sheep already. If I remember correctly, I heard them say that there are already 100,000 sheep, head of sheep, at the sugarcane cooperatives. 37. Spacing, contouring, and all the things that can be done with the sugarcane and other crops were discussed here. It was also pleasant to listen to the comrade from (Regadero) when he explained what he was doing with coffee and malanga, how he has managed to increase production, and how he uses mules to transport it 20 km. You can imagine how difficult this is and the honesty that delivering the malanga represents, and the cost of transporting it. Yet it is sold to the people at the set price, the established price; it is not subject to speculation. 38. We talked about microjet irrigation in the plantain crops. It is a truly revolutionary method. This method has been implemented mainly in state areas because they are large plantations, since this requires a specific area with a processing facility to ensure that the plantains are moved as little as possible before reaching the processing facility. At least 100 hectares are needed in order to have a processing facility. If the plantains are too far away, too remote, then they have to be transported in trucks, or wagons, or carts, or whatever, but then they bruise. A cluster of plantains weighing up to 100, 115, 120, or even 140 pounds, when moved, gets very bruised because of its weight. Here, we saw how in some CPA they are already beginning to introduce microjet irrigation for plantains. 39. The delegates from the Havana and Guira cooperatives spoke. We listened to delegates from the Ciego de Avila cooperatives. We heard their enthusiasm, and the prospects they envision for this method. We also talked about microjet irrigation with citrus and what it could represent. The comrades from the research centers spoke on numerous occasions. This meeting has resulted in programs being drafted. It is true that these ideas were already being developed, but here we have made official-we could say- a program to recover the quality and quantity of production. It was clearly seen that in tobacco we can accomplish whatever we want, by following a ranking of priorities. 40. A whole program, a whole plan, which will be implemented immediately, has been developed. We are going to identify all the top-quality tobacco plantations. We need to find out what techniques to use, the importance of tobacco in terms of its export value, what a cigar or the raw material manufactured into a cigar represents, the revenues we obtain from tobacco, the revenues we could obtain, and where to concentrate our main efforts. In particular, we must be very clear about what we have to do in terms of rotations in the tobacco fields, especially in the top-quality plantations, in order to prioritize the quality and quantity of production. 41. It became clear that our exports come from those 1,200 caballerias. Considerable revenues and the prestige of the nation depend on the quality and quantity of those exports. It became clear that this is where we have to start, and that we have to start immediately. We have already received reports on the progress of the camps built in Pinar del Rio, and the Youth Labor Army comrades and contingents that are going to be mobilized because of the importance of having highly-trained people in this kind of work. 42. I was truly pleased that we devoted an important portion of the congress to discussing these technical aspects, and that our farmers have shown so much knowledge, so much wisdom, so much common sense, such a high level of education, and their ability to understand all of this. I have to say, in all truth, that the comments of many comrades were impressive, because of all the wisdom contained in their words, their grasp and mastery of the subjects. The men who spoke here know what they are doing. The cooperatives and their presidents were very impressive. There is a whole constellation of highly knowledgeable cadres. Many of the delegates from the credit and service cooperatives who spoke here were also truly impressive, also because of their grasp, their knowledge. 43. It is truly encouraging to see the levels reached by Cuban farmers, the men and women of the fields, and how what can be done and what we are going to do was demonstrated here. During my final comments, I cannot overlook stressing this aspect of the analyses and debates of the congress. One regrets that the whole country could not see every moment of the congress. I hope that most of the comments will be seen in one way or another. 44. Another important subject that was discussed with great honor and dignity at this congress was the issue of the illegal or illicit sale or diversion of products. The debate resulted in an outstanding proclamation by this congress. This is a subject that had to be discussed. It is only logical. Was it going to be the end of world? No, the world was not going to end. We were fulfilling our revolutionary duty by discussing this subject among all of us, calmly, with composure, with analysis, with justice, and by discussing who was and was not involved, who is responsible and who is not. It was also very important to ascertain or find out how much the diversion of products or illegal sales could affect the deliveries to the state by the independent farmers, or how much of this could be the result of other factors. We cannot let hearsay guide us. We have to be very aware of the realities. I believe that this point was really discussed quite well and that many things were clarified. 45. Yesterday, the morning edition of GRANMA read: Drop in Farming Sector Deliveries Discussed. It is not entirely correct to speak of a drop in farming sector deliveries because, although there was a drop throughout the sector during 1991, during 1991, [repeats] last year. Last year was a complicated year. There were many pests. There were lots of whiteflies in the tomato crop and other crops. They damaged many products. Every year you can tell what was damaged. Last year the cabbage and tomato crops were heavily damaged. Potatoes were heavily affected due to several factors: too much heat, premature development, loss of foliage, all these and also irrigation problems, and other subjective factors. 46. So, this is why I am bringing up these figures again so all of this can be published. It is for the best. In this case, I am not talking about you, but about the people who have not participated in the congress. How were things in 1991, and how are things in 1992? Of course, in 1991, as we said before, deliveries to the state increased by 15.8 percent. This is the nationwide figure. The deliveries by the CPA dropped by 6.9 percent last year. Independent farmers dropped much more, as we said before; they dropped by 24.3 percent. Well, we have tried to see what factors had an influence during 1991. 47. However, there is something encouraging. During the first four months of this year, deliveries to the state have again increased; once again they have increased nationwide by 20.8 percent above last year's level. During these first four months, the deliveries by the CPA have increased by 20.03 percent. This year, there has already been a noticeable increase by the CPA. This is why it is not entirely correct to say that there was a drop in the farming sector, because the CPA are part of this sector. 48. However, once again, there have been drops in the independent sector. This should make us worry a bit more. The independent sector dropped by 24.3 percent in 1991, and during the first four months [of 1992] it dropped 8.1 percent, despite the fact that we did not have those adverse weather problems with the tomatoes and other crops. We need to investigate further what factors have had an impact. 49. Of course, there are provinces-as we were able to see here and from other figures that we have-in which all three factors dropped... [pauses] all three sectors dropped: the state, the cooperatives, and the independent sectors. There is one province in which all three increased. I believe that it is encouraging to see what Havana Province has done. What was done in 1991? The state sector increased by 67.7 percent, the CPA dropped by 2.2 percent, and the independent farmers dropped by 19.1 percent during 1991. 50. Now, during the first four months of 1992, the state sector again increased in comparison to last year, and by a considerable amount: 53.2 percent. The CPA also increased considerably. They increased by 37.4 percent. That is considerable. The independent sector increased this year in comparison to last year when they dropped. They still have to reach their 1990 level, but they have already increased by 8.4 [percent]. 51. In other words, what is happening here, what is happening in this province... [pauses] This province, by producing more, frees the other provinces, since much of the supplies for Havana City, which has 2.1 million inhabitants, came from the other provinces, Pinar del Rio, Matanzas, Villa Clara, Camaguey, and even from the eastern provinces. Sometimes, products even came from Holguin Province. 52. Here we have to feed more than 3 million inhabitants with tubers and vegetables on 42,000 hectares, as we were saying. These are the inhabitants of the capital, the inhabitants of Havana Province, plus the state entities, which is the equivalent of hundreds of thousands of additional consumers. It is very good for the country for this province to increase production significantly, as it is doing. 53. Of course, the state enterprises had greater potential. The lands of the CPA were being exploited pretty well, although they lacked workers. The state enterprises were lacking even more workers, and they had greater growth potential. By improving organization and efficiency, by applying science and technology, it is logical that these state enterprises would make a great leap forward in production, especially if they had the work force. 54. But look how the cooperatives had still more potential, despite the fact that their lands were being much better exploited than state lands. Their potential is evidenced by this increase in production in Havana Province in 1992. So, we have an example of... [pauses] and we are in a special period, and also have less fuel and fewer resources, but the problem of the work force has been solved, especially thanks to the cooperation of Havana City Province, basically. Havana Province is cooperating too, but naturally the city has more personnel, more inhabitants, much more human potential, and the capital is helping in the production of its own supplies. 55. This is the real situation. We must pay special attention to the independent producers, so as to find out what their problems are. From a few examples that came up here, such as that of Peladeros and others, or the example brought up by the comrade from Niquero, we can see that it can be done, with fewer resources, in the middle of a special period, and despite climate problems. Thus, we must know the problems well, so as to achieve this increase, so as to have this become generalized. It is a most important task of the ANAP to tackle this problem, study it, and work with the independent farmers. In Havana we are working with them. [Words indistinct] was put to them here in Havana: Choose. This is the program. What part of this program do you prefer? How much potato do you want to plant, how much garlic, how much in carrots, how much of other things? It is not a question of imposing a program on them. I mean, the program for the province, what the country needs, is this. Choose from this. 56. Of course, many choose garlic, which brings in a high income. It also requires a big work force. Sometimes concentration on garlic results in neglect of carrots, or neglect of tomatoes. We must study the problem, see how we can do all these things. Also, sometimes there is an excess of crops other than the commercial ones. Perhaps more land than necessary for self-sufficiency was planted with beans at that time of the year, to the detriment of planting that needs to be done because yucca, boniato, or tomatoes, which are crops for that season. We do not have enough land available to allow ourselves the luxury of reducing the potato areas. 57. Note that we must still plant tomatoes in Pinar del Rio so as to help supply the capital. The province has to make a big effort. Note that in the past few years we have had to devote 750 caballerias of canefields to the planting of tubers and vegetables. We cannot under use the land. We must plant potatoes, which are going to give us 5,000 or 6,000 quintals [per caballeria] to supply the market. So if you exaggerate the area of beans for self-sufficiency purposes, you cannot plant potatoes, or you stop growing boniato, yucca, or some other crop, or carrots. 58. We have to achieve a rational exploitation of the land of the independent farmers. We must talk with them, converse, listen, and explain all these things to them. 59. Of course, we do not interfere with their self-sufficiency planting. In fact, in Havana Province, the raising of pigs was authorized a year ago. This is something that for sanitary reasons had not been authorized. There are many people raising pigs in Havana Province. We have to avoid letting people feed the pigs with plantains, or boniato, or potatoes, or any of those things. Pigs should be fed scraps from the harvests and so forth. If too much land is used in order to be able to feed the pigs, this will then be to the detriment of the production of tomatoes, yucca, boniato, potatoes, carrots, beets, and other crops, in short, that these 3 million consumers need. 60. This includes, and I repeat, social consumption, an area where we have already made a great effort as 750 caballerias of irrigated canefields were turned over to be used for producing food for these 3 million inhabitants. So it is logical for us to demand that rational and optimal use be made of these lands. There are also some crops that lend themselves more to diversion. We already know that beans lend themselves to diversion quite a lot. If you plant much more than you need for self-sufficiency purposes, that surplus could end up, through irregular routes, in black market. 61. These things have to be analyzed. However, one can work perfectly, some work perfectly, using rational methods, with the state enterprises, the CPA, and the independent farmers, taking into account their interests, seeing what interests them, what is suitable for them and so forth, appealing to their sense of civic, revolutionary, and patriotic duty. That is very important. 62. We must be aware of the fact that at this moment, money is not the primary motivation. Money abounds, as you know. At a moment such as this, when the country is going through a special period, a big dose of patriotism is needed. We must appeal to the small farmers' sense of solidarity, their revolutionary feelings, the small farmers' patriotic feelings. We must explain things to them. Because if we wanted or tried to solve this on the basis of money... [pauses] Money does have a role, you know. The prices paid, as has been said here, bring the small farmers reasonable income, a relatively high income. Some people have explained this here. 63. We have even begun raising prices lately, including some retail prices. Some prices have been raised gradually, in an attempt to make prices correspond to costs, and in order to try to encourage the production of certain crops, because if one crop brings you greater income than another, the one that brings you greater income will always have a privileged place. But we must appeal to the sense of solidarity, to the revolutionary and patriotic sentiments of everyone. Without this, we would not be able to solve the problems of the special period, which are not normal conditions. They are conditions under which many things are in short supply. If we were to think, if we were to fall under the illusion of thinking, that we can solve these problems by printing bills and distributing money, we would be really very mistaken, totally mistaken. 64. Now, as regards the specific topic of diversion of resources, something became very obvious here. The thing is that innocent people are having to suffer consequences that should belong only to the guilty. There are indeed ANAP members-as has been stated and acknowledged here-who divert resources. They certainly do not constitute a majority. They are a minority. But of course a certain, small minority contributes, or can contribute, to a reduction in deliveries. Or if less is planted, this too can contribute to a reduction in deliveries, which can be influenced by a series of factors: How much is being planted? How is it being planted? What technique is being applied? How much is being turned over to the state? 65. ANAP knows of certain cases of people who, after consuming a goodly amount of fuel and fertilizer, have delivered 20, 30, or 35 quintals of tubers. There are well-known isolated cases. Some cases are notorious; others are a bit more discreet. The comrades from Villa Clara told us that they knew, from among the 11,000 independent producers of one kind or another-how many were they?-1,000 and some who participate in this diversion of resources. 66. However, it can be clearly seen here that one must make a distinction between this small farmer and that small farmer. Because the greatest disorder exists among a large number of landholders who for several different reasons have plots of one or two hectares, sometimes a bit more. Sometimes because of irregularities, there is one who has... [pauses] who is old because he retired from where he was working and then moved out into the countryside. 67. There are irregularities that give rise to people holding up to six, seven, or 10 hectares, or one caballeria, and they have nothing to do with the ANAP. That is, there are many people who elude all supervision by the ANAP, who do not feel themselves to be members of the ANAP, who elude all control by the ANAP. They elude the authority of the state collection enterprise, because some of those who have a few fruit trees, or the people who plant one product or another and do not make deliveries, are not, strictly speaking, ANAP members. 68. However, there are ANAP members who do this. But there are many landowners, and some of them are illegal, who use and abuse the practice of the illegal distributions. They cause economic damage, of course, but they also cause moral damage, especially. Because people who do not know better call everybody a farmer. They do not know if they belong to the ANAP or not. They do not know if they have a moral obligation to the organization. So they just call them farmers. They generalize. They say that it is the farmers who are doing this or that, or that they are speculating. Then it turns out that they are not members. They do not have a farmer's attitude, and they are really not part of the farmers' organization. 69. Of course, we should not force anyone to belong to the farmers' organization. But we should be aware of what our powers and jurisdiction are. That is why yesterday I was saying that the ANAP can have jurisdiction over anyone who is a landowner. In other words, the ANAP must be involved, and no one can use the excuse: I am not an ANAP member so I can do whatever I want. 70. The ANAP can say: You are a landowner, and even though you are not an ANAP member you have social and moral obligations to your country and nation. You do not have the right to steal, speculate, or commit such an injustice against the people during the special period, guided by foolish greed in wanting to accumulate more and more money. In addition, you have no right to discredit the farmers so that everyone has a bad opinion of farmers as a consequence of your behavior. 71. The ANAP must have jurisdiction over all landowners as a principle. It must have the right to demand from them. But, in addition, the people's councils should have the right of jurisdiction over all landowners. We must find practical means. As I said yesterday, we cannot expect that under these circumstances a truck will come along to collect, plant by plant, one or two quintals of mangoes or any other crop. We must find mechanisms that will guarantee that these products get to the state collection enterprise or that they get to the people and are not the subject of speculation. 72. It became evident that the structure for attending to the farmers was not efficient. A new structure has been worked out to give more direct attention to farmers so that farmers can talk to one person instead of 10. This is to make things easier. Or course, this requires good selection of personnel; competent, responsible, and honest personnel. If they stop being honest, we will change them. If they stop being honest, we must detect them in time so that they can be changed. You cannot guarantee that a person who is honest today will be honest tomorrow. There are people who are honest throughout their lives, and there are people who are honest only during part of their lives. All this must be monitored: how they work and how these people, who are in positions of responsibility, give service. The ANAP should supervise their work. The people's councils should also supervise their work. 73. The ANAP, the people's councils, and the Ministry of Agriculture should create practical and intelligent formulas to fight speculation and guarantee an end to such blatant theft, which consists in selling an item at 20 times its price. This should not be described as anything other than theft. If we talk about surveillance, we talk about surveillance and armed patrols to fight common crime. Some may want to steal plantains, or they may want to steal yucca or boniato. We must also organize ourselves to prevent those other forms of theft. 74. Because it is the same thing if an individual steals plantains or if he sells them at 10 or 20 times their price, or if he sells malanga at 10 times its price. Because anyone who sells malanga at 10 times its price has stolen nine pounds of malanga. He has not earned it. He has not produced 10 pounds. He has produced one and has sold it for the price of 10, taking advantage of a momentary need, or of a sick family member whose doctor has prescribed malanga under the theory of its medicinal properties. 75. The adviser will excuse me [chuckles] because he defended the use of malanga as a medicine. Prudencio [not further identified] also spoke about the use of malanga as a medicine. In fact, I have spoken to doctors and have told them to clarify for once and for all that there are other tubers that are very good for the stomach. Squash, or yucca, or plantains are good for your stomach. From plantains they obtain (?bananina). The best food for children is (?bananina). It is better than malanga. Everyone knows that malanga is good. It is good, it is not acidic, it does not upset the stomach, but yucca is also good. Potatoes are also good. 76. Some are better than others. But, what do you think? Do you think that there is malanga in Europe? Have you ever heard that in France, Italy, England, Spain, and Europe there is malanga? What are children fed? They do not have any malanga. They make other products derived from flour, wheat, and other things, and they have lots of potatoes. What they feed the children in Europe is potatoes. They give them lots of potatoes because they have few tubers. They may also give them carrots or something else. 77. But the theory of malanga as a medicine cannot be upheld. There are some doctors that have this stuck in their heads. They do not know how to prescribe anything else, and they prescribe malanga. Then the state has to guarantee the production of malanga, which was recommended by the doctors. Malanga has now turned into a medicine, in a country that has so many different tubers and also has plantains. We will have a large amounts of plantains; we are obtaining them in increasing amounts. But if some people believe something is a medicine, they will pay any price. 78. We must also take into consideration that the people who pay too much could be people from the city who are not very honest. I admit that there may be good and honest people who at a given time have been weak or who due to necessity have had to make an illegal purchase. In this situation, the person who ties up the goat is as guilty as the one who... [pauses] How does it go? How does that peasant saying go? [answer indistinct] A goat. Let us say a goat; we do not want to kill a cow now. [laughter] The person who kills the goat is just as guilty as the person who ties up the goat. 79. Of course, the people who speculate always have someone who cooperates with them, for one reason or another. Just like the person who steals stolen goods... [pauses] who buys stolen goods. He comes around, kills a cow, and then the customers show up. But do not forget that in the cities there are speculators, illegal vendors, hoarders, and thieves, and they have all the money they want. They can go around buying things. Is it fair for farmers to sell to these people? 80. These are the types of problems we have. I believe that starting with this congress-although I do not believe that there is going to be a miracle and that tomorrow all this will end-with the agreement and declaration of this congress and with intelligent measures we will be able to fight this bad habit, vice, and immorality, which is the diversion of resources, better every day. It is an injustice against the people. 81. Many of you here spoke from the heart, saying: How can it be possible that someone who receives all he needs could do something like this? If he were to need a heart operation he would be operated on, even if he is an illegal vendor and the operation costs $100,000. He would receive any type of medical care or treatment he needed, and could stay in the hospital as many months as he needed. His children would be educated. He would have the security that a citizen has with the revolution. How can he carry out these types of activities? It is very immoral. 82. There are moral factors in the people: honor, dignity, pride, and self-worth. This is a tremendous force. This is a tremendous force. [repeats] We need to use this moral force to fight this. This is also a factor in this fight, besides the legal measures that may be applied. When there are no other alternatives, they must be applied. It is my opinion that after this congress-as in the past when the fight against other kinds of crime was strengthened, against those who are found stealing-we need to strengthen the fight against this other kind of crime and against this other kind of theft, which is these kinds of sales at shameful prices, which some people do. 83. Above all, we must fight so that some farmers are not mistaken for others. We must fight so that a landowner who is not associated to anything and who has tried to be free of all obligations to do whatever he feels like doing, is not mistaken for another farmer. The people must understand the sense of honor of our peasants and farmers, and what they are doing, and how they are helping our country, and the way they have acted during this special period. 84. We must say that farmers have had many glorious moments in the history of our country. They have played a very important role throughout the history of our country. They have played a very important role in the revolution. They have many values, and those values were reflected here. Someone might say that the best farmers were present at this congress. Yes, of course, the best were at this congress, those who have the most merits, history, capability, and lucidity. But that does not explain the feelings that you have expressed here. We must say that not only are the best here, but the most representative farmers are here. These farmers represent the rest of the farmers. These farmers are the bearers of the feelings, honor, and dignity of the rest of the farmers. [applause] 85. These delegates are the ones who have the most authority and prestige among the farmers. These are the farmers who lead the rest of the farmers. So it is true, and based on the fact that the best are here, the farmers who are here have great influence. They represent their sector as brothers of the working class, as allies and brothers. I like the word brother better than the word ally, because it expresses more, and it says more. These are the ones who lead the farmers. 86. Therefore, it is not that the best spoke here. The farmers of the country spoke here through these men who have the most merit, authority, and prestige. Who is going to question the prestige, authority, and influence of the presidents of the credit and services cooperatives who spoke here, or the presidents of the cooperatives who spoke here? Nobody can question it; no one has the right to do so. History will not be altered or changed. Farmers will continue to be a cornerstone of the revolution. They will continue to be a fundamental factor of the revolution, one of the pillars of the revolution. [applause] 87. Our imperialist enemies should not be deceived. The farmers were the ones who provided the fundamental strength of the army of liberation in the wars of 1868 and 1895. The farmers were the ones who provided the the fundamental strength of the rebel army in the last war of liberation. Farmers know very well what happened in Cuba. They know what Cuba was like, the Cuba of the colony, against which they rebelled, the Cuba of the landholders, and the Cuba of the imperialists' lackeys, against whom they also rebelled. 88. Farmers know very well what the Cuba of the landowners was like. They know of all the injustices and abuses. I do not have to mention them, because you have mentioned them with a lot more eloquence than anyone could. Farmers have a clear awareness and a higher level of culture. If some problems arise, it is in part due to deficiencies in our work, because we have taken too long in reacting with all the needed efficiency, but we react. We react with the efficiency that is required. 89. Farmers know what happened in this country. When the big Yankee companies came, they took all the land. That is more or less what they would like to do today. They would like to take all the lands and riches of this country. They want to rule this country and do whatever they want to in this country. We are not going to allow this, because they may rule others but they will not rule a single Cuban who has patriotic feelings, nor a single Cuban who has honor and pride. [applause] 90. They had better not underestimate us, much less underestimate our farmers, who have not only carried out, throughout history, their most sacred duties, but throughout the revolution they have carried out their internationalist duties. How many farmers have participated in internationalist missions? How many farmers have shed their blood and the blood of their loved ones in the fulfillment of their most sacred revolutionary duties inside and outside Cuba? Our farmers have this whole sense of glory, honor, and dignity. This cannot be disregarded. Our farmers are our reserves, our Territorial Troops Militias [MTT]. The regular army reserves and MTT are organized into defense zones, and they are armed. 91. They are the ones who maintain order. Before, there were the rural guards with big horses that came from Texas. They were Texan horses. The rural guards also had big Texan hats. They copied them from the Yankee occupation troops. They had big machetes, which were not exactly the same as the Mambi machetes for leading the calvary charges against the enemy, against the oppressors of the nation. Instead, they were for leading the calvary charges against the poor men of the people, for leading calvary charges against the farmers to evict, abuse, and exploit them, and give their land to a landowner. 92. So the farmers know all this history and everything that has happened here, and they defend it. They defend it with their guns in their hands. This is why I said that today order is not imposed by those people, the rural guards. Today it is the farmers. I ask myself: In what other part of the world is it the farmers who maintain order? If guns were given to the farmers elsewhere, you know what would happen. It was forbidden, and anyone who even thought of it would be considered crazy and with good reason. Because what could they give the exploited, enslaved, poor people? How could they give them the job of maintaining order? In this country, it is order that is the highest expression of the state's functions, one of the highest expressions. The farmers maintain it, together with the agricultural workers and the people. 93. This is the truth. It is not just a question of having schools, doctors, and childcare centers, or of having 26 from Ceballos who are already university-graduated professionals. And only nine are working in agricultural activities, according to what became evident yesterday, when I said that this had gone too far. Because if there are 26 from Ceballos, imagine! They are in the universities, they have become professors and teachers. Everyone is into it. Of course, this is why we must increase production and efficiency. It is not only this. It is not everything we have today, but also the dignity and respect people have today, the functions that people have because they are the strength, the power. 94. Of course, we are the enemy of the illegal vendors and the Yankees. Well, they are the same; there is not a big difference. The difference is the difference between a small thief and a big thief. [laughter] I am not referring to the American people; not at all. Like all people, they have great virtues. I am referring to the oligarchy, the oligarchic classes, the exploiters of that country. There has just been an explosion. Well, an explosion has gone off, and there are hundreds of potential explosions there. 95. What a difference there is, right? Between the farmers who maintain order here and what happens there, where they had to send in regular troops to establish order in the city. There were thousands of soldiers armed to the teeth, and tanks and guns. They sent in the troops that invaded Panama and other countries to establish order there. There were police of every kind. There is no country in the world with more police than that one. 96. Look at the difference. The people can see all this. The farmers see all this. These are the facts, and we are not willing to surrender no matter what sacrifices we may have to make. Our liberators made much greater sacrifices in 1868 and 1895, and during those years of General Weyler's concentration plan. How much work our people suffered through! How much hunger they suffered! And during the years of Machado in the republic, how much work our farmers and agricultural workers suffered through! How much suffering, how much neglect! 97. They did not have employment. They were forced to stand in line at the sugarcane plantations so they could be given the chance to cut cane. There was not even cold water, or camps, or dining halls, or transportation, or lunches, or any of this. The men carried a bag, and if they could they put some bread with guava jelly on it, and they went all day like that, without water, dining hall, breaks, transportation, or anything, and they often cut the cane (?barefoot). 98. Those really were terrible sacrifices. During the Machado years, they did not have land. Now the land belongs to the people. There are no foreign companies here that own land. All the land available in the country is in the hands of the people to grow sugarcane, coffee, cacao, tobacco, fruit, tubers, vegetables, rice, pasturage, to produce milk, meat, and food. For whom? For the people. Or to export it to obtain food, medicine, and raw materials for the people. 99. The people have all these resources available. During the Machado years, they did not have anything. They were unemployed and barefoot, nothing more. If they got a piece of land, you know what happened. They were surrounded by large estates everywhere. Today we have the emulation process between the state lands, which is what the state cultivates; the lands of the CPA; and the lands of the independent farmers. Everyone is searching, trying to produce more food for the people. 100. We have the land. As difficult as the conditions may be, we can cultivate it, using tractors, if there is fuel, or using oxen, or whatever it takes. We have the technology and the science. No one is barring us from finding different varieties. We quickly develop the ones we have. We have all kinds of possibilities. Our sacrifices do not resemble at all those made by the Cubans before. Imagine what the Cuban countryside was like during the wars of 1868 and 1895. Imagine what the countryside was like during the time of Weyler's concentration plan. 101. Imagine the situation in our countryside during the Machado years. This situation was prolonged indefinitely until the victory of the revolution. There is nothing more to say. When the revolution triumphed there were approximately 600,000 unemployed people in Cuba. There was backwardness in public health, education, and everything. Those who had barely learned how to write their names could consider themselves to be privileged. 102. Even during this special period, our situation and possibilities are much greater than what the people had in other times, because the people own their wealth. The people are the master of their fate. This is what is important. We cannot allow anyone to take away this mastery over our fate from us. 103. It is true that we have a number of landowners who act worse than the United Fruit Company. Some of those large landowners want to obtain more money than those people with one or two hectares planted with some products which for one or another reason may be scarce. But the great majority of the land, let us say, to be more exact, is in the hands of working people, honest people, patriotic people, revolutionary people. 104. This is what we have. Those are the conclusions we must draw from everything we have seen here during these three excellent days, especially the first two days when the general national issues were discussed. I know that this morning you discussed internal issues. But we truly have reasons to feel pleased and proud, to return to the provinces and fields full of motivation, everyone, not only the farmers but also the party, government, and Ministry of Agriculture officials. 105. Now, we will do our tasks. We are behind schedule in planting sugarcane. We are behind schedule planting tubers and vegetables. We are behind schedule planting pasture. We are behind planting rice, in planting everything. We are behind schedule in the sugar harvest. Now we are making up for lost time. The setbacks caused by the late rains delayed many of these things. We have difficulties to overcome, by making a great effort in all fields, including in livestock raising, which I had not mentioned. Great technical innovations are being introduced, such as the rational grazing system with electrified fences. This has produced a revolution in livestock raising as big as the microjet irrigation system produced with plantains. 106. We are planting legumes: wisteria and leucaena. We have been collecting seeds. We have an ambitious plan. We are planting sugarcane to produce sacharina. Unfortunately, the sugarcane we are now planting in May is behind schedule because of the rain. As I said yesterday, if it rains hard right now it could do us some good but it could also do us a significant amount of damage, because the sugar harvest is not finished yet. The first two weeks [of May] have allowed us to prepared the soil quite a bit and get many fields ready. But naturally, until it rains, we cannot begin to plant sugarcane, soybeans, in many places tubers and vegetables, and rice with irrigation. 107. Premature rains could cause difficulties in the preparation of the land. Dikes are being built to create bogs in places where the rains might make it impossible to prepare all the land. So we are anticipating what might happen and creating the conditions to be able to work. But this month and next month and July will be months of great effort. 108. We have less herbicides, less fertilizers. We have very little herbicides and fertilizers, but if weeds grow in the canefields, the lack of fertilizers causes more damages. We must weed the sugarcane, cultivate it, plant it well, weed it, cultivate it, cultivate the regrowth, use straw as an herbicide. All this will help us in these conditions. This is why we have to cultivate the sugarcane to compensate for the lack of herbicides and fertilizers. You can tell the effort that we are making, how we have to allocate the money peso by peso, or in hard currency, for each of the needs we have. But our efforts can help alleviate the problems. 109. We should conclude this congress with the idea that we have very great work ahead of us in the coming weeks and months. We have to go to our battle posts with our spirits ready, ready to wage the battle and win it. I know that you will return to the fields with this spirit. You will return with this spirit, this morale, this confidence, this determination, and this resolution. You will be certain that no matter what the difficulties are, we will be capable of overcoming them. We will be capable of moving forward. 110. The only thing left to do is to thank you for the congress you have had, for the happiness and satisfaction that we have felt to see the level and quality of the discussions and analyses. I thank you as a revolutionary of this era-we have already been at this revolutionary task for quite a while-for having had the opportunity to see with my own eyes and behold the results of what the revolution has planted in the hearts and minds of our farmers. 111. I feel the desire to shout: Viva our farmers! Viva our farming sector! Viva our nation! Viva the revolution! Socialism or death, fatherland or death, we will win! [applause] -END-