THE GREEN REVOLUTION in HAVANA URBAN FARMS in Alamar ( East Havana)
After the collapse of the former Soviet Union, the Cuban food distribution system heavily depending
on foreign imports came under pressure.
By losing his major trading partner the Cuban economy dropped dramatically in a short period of time.
With almost no food imports, no transportation and petrol shortage the situation became rapidly dramatic.
Many Cubans survived on rations of rice and sugared water. This difficult period was called the "special period",
but the Cubans showed their fighting spirit by seeking and inventing solutions.
To solve the transportation problem they designed the "camel bus" (camello) a double bus with a camel shape
pulled by a big truck. It's said that this bus can carry over 300 persons.
( see more on the CAMEL BUS video)
To ease the food problem the Cuban government stimulated the introduction of urban gardens and farms.
Small private gardens but also larger state operated urban gardens were encouraged to cultivate vegtables and
fruits. Today almost a quarter of the available land in and around Havana is used as urban garden.
Despite the US embargo, Cubans still rely on food imports from the USA, but considering the world food crisis,
with increasing food and transport prices, the urban farms can offer the solution and further expansion can be
expected. In one of his latest announcements the Cuban president Raul Castro stressed on the necessity
to increase the domestic food production. Alamar a suburb of Havana has several operating urban gardens and farms to feed his population.
Check this video's to get a better insight in the Cuban urban gardens.
