Havana, Cuba.- Cuban Agriculture Minister Gustavo Rodriguez on Saturday told the People”s Power National Assembly (Parliament) that Cuba is carrying out local food production programs as part of strategies to reduce imports.

The minister spoke at an extraordinary session on the country’s economic priorities and the development plan until 2030, and noted the need to strengthen local self-sufficiency, a key goal in the aspiration to achieve food security in Cuba.

According to Rodriguez, major steps have been taken in urban and suburban agriculture, programs that have had a great impact on the reduction of rice, cereals and corn imports.

Regarding the incentives to national production to save hard currency, the minister referred to the installation of at least three plants of biological products that would supply pesticides and biostimulants.

He told the lawmakers gathered at Havana’s Convention Center about initiatives to produce animal feed, fatten chicken and produce pork.