CIEGO DE ÁVILA.— Cuba is experiencing one of the worst droughts in recent years, so much so that several water storage sources have already been exhausted, impacting irrigation systems.
In Ciego de Ávila the drought has primarily affected the newly planted cane fields, which constitute a large portion of the area designated for the coming harvest.
Engineer Norelvis Gallo Saroza, director-general of the Ciego de Ávila Sugar Cane Enterprise told Invasor digital, “From a geographical point of view the north-central zone is the most critical, particularly the Enrique Varona mill’s supply area; while areas which supply the Primero de Enero and Ciro Redondo plants are also suffering.
“Thus far only the Ecuador mill has been unaffected, which despite lack of heavy rainfall, has experience sporadic showers more frequently than its counterparts. However, the strategy for Ciego de Ávila is to focus efforts on the land.”
Among a group of priorities, he emphasized the need to maintain and exceed cultivation efforts, maximize fertilization and actions to combat weeds in order to promote growth and more effectively exploit potential rain.
“Another aspect we can’t overlook is the use of bio-stimulants and anti-stress Fitomas–E; we have already treated some 40,000 hectares and applied more of these products than in same period last year.
”Another measure is more efficient use of the irrigation systems of the water storage sources still in use, in order to achieve intensive growth and thus a greater volume of sugar cane which could reduce the deficit caused by the drought.
ikewise, the application of nitrogen to the soil must be increased where possible.”
In regards to planting, the director reported that just over half of the annual plan as been fulfilled, “but given the exceptional situation we are facing it is also necessary to adopt exceptional decisions related to the efficient use of machinery in order to continue rapidly preparing and ploughing the soil to immediately exploit the humidity that could be left by the rain.”
Regarding this issue, Gallo Saroza noted that producers and municipal distributors of agricultural products and services must prioritize organization, both in regards to equipment and tools, and workers, given their importance in the cultivation process which will contribute to the 2016–2017 harvest.
