Page 6 - aruba-today-20230309

A6 WORLD NEWS
Thursday 9 March 2023
Cuba tobacco farmers recuperate after ruinous Hurricane Ian

By ANDREA RODRÍGUEZ Private tobacco produc-
Associated Press ers have been meeting
SAN LUIS, Cuba (AP) — A with authorities since last
neighbor lent him a house fall to secure commitments
to dry leaves, and he had for the state to help settle
a little fertilizer saved, so he debts and pay for materi-
plucked up the courage to als to rebuild tobacco dry-
plant. Now, Hirochi Robai- ing houses. Help also has
na can hardly believe the come from fellow tobacco
resulting miracle. producing nations Nica-
Robaina, one of the most ragua and the Dominican
recognized tobacco pro- Republic, and producers
ducers in Cuba, marvels also chipped in to help
as he walks through the in- each other.
tense green of plants that Reiniel Rojas, a 33-year-old
have grown more than a farmer who has been cul-
meter (three feet) high in tivating premium tobacco
the Pinar del Rio region. for ten years, planted 13
Six months after Hurricane hectares (about 30 acres)
Ian devastated 80% of the around La Coloma thanks
region’s tobacco infra- Norma Toledo works on a tobacco farm at kilometer 7 in La Coloma community in Pinar del Río, to the fact that he was able
structure, farmers are try- Cuba, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023. Associated Press to finish his drying houses.
ing to recuperate from the “The recovery was quick,”
disaster. And though they’ll is so famous that a cigar crisis in Cuba, where the north to the west, devastat- Rojas said. Rojas got seeds
produce less than in past brand bears his name: Ve- Gross Domestic Product ing the Pinar del Río region from a colleague to plant.
seasons, they say they’ll gas Robaina. At the begin- (GDP) dropped 11% in where 80% of the island’s Robaina received four
still be able to harvest the ning of October, Robaiana 2020. Many farmers don’t tobacco is produced in- chainsaws from producer
leaves for premium hand- was resigned to planting remember ever having cluding almost all of its to- friends from other coun-

rolled cigars, one of the only beans and vegetables lived through the kind of bacco for export. tries and his cousin lent him
Caribbean nation’s key ex- something, at least, but destruction brought by the Five people in Cuba died the drying house, while he
ports. a waste for land that can hurricane. In the fall, they overall and 30,000 were loaned some fertile land to
“Not a single tobacco produce some of the finest had doubted they would evacuated. two other farmers.
house was left standing. export tobacco. even be able to plant any Thousands of utility poles Nature also helped by with-
There were no warehouses, But then he changed his tobacco this season. It re- fell. Entire communities holding plagues of caterpil-
there was no tree left,” Ro- mind and decided to try quires special care, appli- were without electricity, lars or fungi, so demand for
baino told The Associated planting tobacco “to main- cation of fertilizers at pre- water, and telephones for pesticides was low.
Press, remembering how tain the family tradition of a cise moments, irrigation, weeks. Rice, corn, sweet A tobacco house costs a
the storm left the region at century,” he said, showing cloth to cover the plants potato and fruit crops were producer around $20,000 at
the end of September. “Ev- his tobacco over two hect- and drying houses for the destroyed. the official exchange rate.
erything broke and at that ares (about 5 acres) or leaves. Some 10,000 tobacco dry- A good harvest, with the
moment I did not believe it about 30% of what he had With winds of more than ing houses were toppled. delicate work of a whole
was possible to plant.” at this time in 2022. 200 kilometers per hour (125 About 33,000 tons of stored year, can pay a farming
Robaina, 46, is heir to a Ian’s impact added to an miles per hour), Ian crossed leaves were lost, according family up to $50,000 dollars,
grandfather’s estate that already intense economic the island from south to to authorities. farmers told the AP.q

U.S. defense chief: Egypt ties an ‘essential pillar’ in region

CAIRO (AP) — U.S. Defense cooperation and surging Austin was expected to Baghdad on Tuesday on line critics.
Secretary Lloyd Austin said violence in the Palestin- depart Cairo for Israel later an unannounced visit, days ‘’The U.S.-Egypt defense
Wednesday that America’s ian territories. Few further Wednesday. His previous before the 20th anniversary partnership is an essential
defense partnership with details about the meeting stops on the tour included of the U.S.-led invasion that pillar of our commitment to
Egypt is an “essential pillar” were given. Jordan and Iraq. He was in ousted Saddam Hussein. this region,’’ Austin posted
of Washington’s commit- Egypt is one of the largest on Twitter. ‘’I’m here to
ment to the Middle East. recipients in the Mideast of strengthen our coordina-
Austin made the remark on American economic and tion on key issues and to
Twitter after touching down military aid and an abiding pursue opportunities to
in Cairo on the latest leg of U.S. ally in the region. But in deepen our long-standing
his Middle East tour. He was recent years, U.S. lawmak- bilateral partnership with
greeted by senior Egyptian ers have sought to condi- Egypt.’’
military officials at the Cairo tion that aid on human Egypt has also played a
airport. rights improvements and key role in brokering numer-
After landing, Austin held reforms. ous cease-fire agreements
talks with Egyptian Presi- Since coming to power in between Israeli and Pales-
dent Abdel Fattah el-Sissi 2013, el-Sissi’s government tinian leaders over recent
and other high-ranking of- has overseen a wide-rang- years. Austin’s trip comes
ficials. ing crackdown on dissent, as violence has surged
According to a statement jailing thousands. Officials across the occupied West
issued by Egypt’s presiden- United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin reads a have targeted not only Is- Bank to its highest levels in
tial spokesperson, el-Sissi statement following a NATO defense ministers meeting at NATO lamist political opponents years. Austin was expected
and Austin discussed vari- headquarters in Brussels, Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023. but also pro-democracy to meet with Israeli officials
ous issues, including military Associated Press activists, journalists and on- on Thursday.q