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crop is milled or hulled by. means of the primitive pestle and mortar. Under these conditions, it is not surprising that production failed to increase as long as any alternative crops, such as sugarcane, could be

grown.

In order to stimulate increased production, the Government undertook a program of increasing production by (1) improving the yields and quality through improved varieties; (2) reducing the cost of operation by making available better equipment, such as drills for planting,

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binders for harvesting, and threshers and mills; and (3) constructing irrigation projects primarily for rice. By all these measures the Government hopes eventually to increase production to a point where it will supply from one-fourth to one-half of the country's requirements. As early as 1927 the Government distributed small rice-hulling machines, and in 1928 began the free distribution of seed rice as an inducement to farmers. In addition, conferences and lectures were held to explain improved methods of rice production. During recent years this campaign has made steady progress, although production is still at a relatively low level, possibly equivalent to 42 million pounds of cleaned rice in 1941 (table 48). Nearly two-thirds of the total production is in the southern parts of the Provinces of La Habana and Matanzas.

TABLE 48.-Rice growers, acreage, production, and yield in Cuba, by Provinces,

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1 As officially reported. It is estimated that production may actually be as much as 50 percent greater than the data show.

Until recently a large number of varieties of rice were grown in Cuba and little attention was devoted to improving or standardizing them, but since 1928 the free distribution of seed of improved varieties selected by the Government has done much to improve the yield and quality. The improved varieties are Rexora, Fortuna, and Nira, of which the first is the most extensively planted. These varieties require nearly 6 months to mature-Rexora 165 to 175 days and Fortuna about 160 days. They are usually sown from March to May, although some of the other varieties are sown as late as June. It is reported that in April 1940 the Government distributed 370,000 pounds of rice seed and in 1942 nearly 1,500,000 pounds.

In 1927 the Government installed 39 small milling or hulling machines through sale to principal growers or groups of growers and more recently has assisted in installing several large mills, which operate on a custom basis, charging from 15 to 20 cents per hundred pounds of rice milled. It is estimated that there were in 1940 about 5 large mills having a capacity of about 2,000 pounds per hour and about 200 small mills of possibly 200 pounds per hour. Most of the crop, however, is still retained for use on the farms on which it is grown and only a minor part is marketed.

Most of the rice grown in Cuba is produced without irrigation, although yields could be greatly increased by irrigating. At present there are only a few rivers being used for irrigation, the most important being at Güines, in southern La Habana Province, where some 15,000 to 18,000 acres are irrigated by gravity flow. This project has been in operation for many years and is extensively used for rice as well as other crops.

With about three-fourths of the annual rainfall during the summer months, the moisture supply is usually sufficient to produce yields averaging slightly above 1,000 pounds per acre without irrigation, particularly in regions where the water table is relatively high, as in several coastal regions and on the lower land adjoining swamps. However, in some years the rainfall is deficient and crops fail; rice production as a result is relatively unprofitable over a period of years under the old, high-cost methods of production. With irrigation, rice yields may be approximately doubled; consequently, the Government has given much attention recently to the possibility of establishing a number of irrigation projects, intended primarily for the production of rice, although secondarily for other crops as well. In 1937 a survey was made of all rivers in Cuba to find the ones best suited for

irrigation. Most of the rivers flow across the narrow part of the island and are short and small. They are fed primarily by current rainfall and do not provide sufficient water for large irrigation projects. Of the rivers examined, several of the most suitable have been chosen for the proposed construction. Climatic conditions in Cuba are somewhat similar to those in the Grand Prairie section of Arkansas, where irrigation is regularly used for rice.

Before the war growers usually received from 1.5 to 2.2 cents a pound for unhulled rice at the nearest mill. This is slightly higher than the prices received by growers in the United States, which were 1.43 in 1938 and 1.72 in 1939. A price of 2 cents to growers, in addition to the cost of transportation, 15 cents per 100 pounds for milling, 10 cents for bags, and the loss in weight in milling amounting to about 35 percent, resulted in a price of about $3.20 to $3.40 for cleaned rice.

BEANS

Beans are a very important item in the Cuban diet, especially for the poorer people. Total consumption of beans and chickpeas (garbanzos) is estimated at 150 million pounds a year, or about 35 pounds per capita, as compared with only about 12 pounds per capita in the United States. Nearly half of the consumption consists of black beans, about one-fourth of red and pink kidney beans, and the remaining fourth primarily of about equal quantities of white or navy beans and chickpeas. In addition, about 6 million pounds of dry peas are imported.

Of a total estimated consumption of 150 million pounds of beans and peas, Cuba produces about two-thirds and imports about onethird, but these proportions vary widely with the different types of beans (table 49).

TABLE 49.-Bean and pea production (estimated), imports, and utilization in Cuba, average 1936-40

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It will be noted that black beans, which account for nearly one-half the total consumption, are grown almost entirely in Cuba, whereas domestic production of red and pink beans constitutes less than onehalf the requirements of these types. Most of the white beans and practically all the chickpeas are imported. Imports of all kinds of beans, including chickpeas, are valued at from 1.5 to 2 million dollars annually (table 50). By far the greater part of the imports, both of the red and white beans, are from Chile, with the United States supplying slightly over one-fourth. Of the chickpeas, nearly 90 percent are

obtained from Mexico and most of the remainder from the United States.

It is estimated that production in Cuba from about 100,000 acres is in the neighborhood of 100 million pounds annually, of which over 70 percent are black beans and most of the remainder red and pink. Yields of black beans are estimated at 900 pounds an acre, compared with about 750 pounds for the red beans. Storage of dry beans in Cuba, particularly of the red variety, is difficult, because of infestation by the bean weevil. Consequently, it is difficult to keep beans on the farms, which usually have no suitable storage facilities. The crop is usually marketed immediately after harvest and sold through the local storekeeper, who cleans and bags the beans for sale to larger markets having suitable storage facilities. Beans may be protected against insect damage by fumigation, which, however, according to some reports, adversely affects the quality of the beans. Another method of preservation is by cold storage.

TABLE 50.-Beans and peas imported into Cuba, by country of origin, 1936–40

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ROOT CROPS

POTATOES

Potatoes, sweetpotatoes, and yams are all grown in Cuba, but sweetpotatoes are by far the most important of these (fig. 33). Consumption of potatoes as food is estimated at about 150 million pounds. annually; of sweet potatoes, 340 million; and of yams, 61 million (19). Only about 100 million pounds of potatoes, or about two-thirds of the country's requirements, are produced domestically. During the 5 years 1936-40, the annual average imports amounted to 42 million pounds from the United States for use as food, and about 23 million

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FIGURE 33.-Yams and sweetpotatoes are staple items of food in Cuba.

pounds from Canada for seed (table 51). Exports usually consist of less than 1 million pounds (4 million in 1940) of early potatoes shipped to the United States during the winter from December to April. TABLE 51.-Potato imports and exports, Cuba, 1936-40

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1 Imports for seed are about 95 percent from Canada and those for food almost entirely from the United States. 2 Exports are about 98 percent to the United States.

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