It is striking that in announcing the measure, the State Department clarifies that importers “must obtain documentary evidence that demonstrates the entrepreneur’s independent status,” and notes that “This is another measure intended to support the ability of the Cuban people to gain greater control over their own lives and determine their country’s future.”

What the State Department fails to say is that having unilaterally stripped Cuba of its previous treatment as the most-favored nation – after decreeing the blockade – a position rightfully ours as a founding state of the World Trade Organization, in order to export any Cuban product to the United States, higher customs duties must be paid, which make their import to this country practically impossible.

The State Department also ignores the fact that the Agrarian Reform Law, enacted after the triumph of the Revolution in 1959, made more than 200,000 peasant families land owners, and that the Cuban state has since implemented a program for the productive, economic and social development of the rural population of our country and ensured production assistance, access to credit, a secure market for their produce and other social benefits.

No one should believe that a Cuban small farmer can directly export to the United States. For this to be possible, Cuban foreign trade enterprises must participate and financial transactions need to be in U.S. dollars, issues which so far have not been settled.

We are conscious that the objective of these measures is to influence Cuban farmers and separate them from our state.

Cuban small farmers do not fear changes, provided they are of our own making. This is the powerful reason why the continued aim of the government of the United States to destroy the unity of the people of Cuba can not be permitted, as this would destroy a revolutionary process that has provided us with a participatory democracy, freedom, sovereignty and independence.

Cuban farmers are members of this socialist civil society and exist as part of the state, which represents the power of the people, and not in opposition to it. Together with the workers and all our people, we face the imperialist policy objective of promoting the division and disintegration of Cuban society, which is what is intended with a measure such as that recently announced.

If the government of the United States really wants to contribute to the welfare of Cubans, what it must do is definitively lift the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed for more than 50 years, which is the main obstacle to the development of Cuba.

Cuban farmers reaffirm our loyalty to our revolutionary state against all risks and challenges, and will continue to build a prosperous and sustainable socialism, with all and for the good of all, with the patriotic commitment to continue producing for the people.

(Granma)

ANAP President Rafael Santiesteban said during the final session of the event closed this weekend that the working commission carried out an extensive debate.

Among them, the necessity of strengthening the political-ideological work of the rural organization in the struggle against crime and illegalities, was also under discussion.

The session was presided over by the Second Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party, Jose Ramon Machado Ventura, First Vice President of the Council of State and Ministers, Miguel Diaz-Canel, and other officials of the government and ANAP leadership.

Machado Ventura also conveyed a greeting by President Raul Castro, who does not forget about the concerns and occupations of the Cuban farmer sector, for whose aspirations he has been fighting since he was very young.

He also stressed the role played by the historic leader of the Revolution, Fidel Castro, in defense during his whole life of the farmer sectors interest, as did it since his speech “La Historia me Absolvera” (History Will Absolve Me).

Machado Ventura said this was a congress of achievement that has left an influence and the most important thing is what we have to do from now on.

(Prensa Latina)

For three days, participants discussed on the need to use all productive reserves to increase food, as well as the strengthening of the leadership of cooperatives and structures of the rural organization.

Rafael Santiesteban Pozo was ratified as a president of this organization.

The proposals to be presented at the event – taking place at the Havana Convention Center with an expected 700 delegates and 150 invited guests – are the result of assemblies at the municipal and provincial level held in recent months.

Speaking ahead of the Congress on the daily Mesa Redonda (Roundtable) program, Rafael Santiesteban Pozo, president of this farmers’ organization, explained that during the event attendees will continue analyzing how to achieve greater production efficiency and import substitution with better use of science and different techniques.

The Congress will also debate relevant issues in the legal field – which often presents various difficulties – such as contractual relationships established between production bases and the State, as well as the efficient use of land and the operation of the organization with regards to its social purpose and responsibilities to communities.

At present, the ANAP – founded on May 17, 1961 – brings together 3,343 grassroots organizations and more than 380,000 farmers.

(Granma)