Federation of Southern Cooperatives
Land Assistance Fund

An Ecumenical Agricultural tour of Cuba in November 2004 was organized by Agricultural Missions, Inc, a non-profit organization that facilitates sustainable models of development in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean and the United States.

The purpose of the tour was to learn from and support Cuban churches in their development work.  For me, the tour provided a unique opportunity to gain a better understanding of Cuba through personal experience and acquire information that has not been filtered by U. S. politicians and mainstream media.  The tour group was comprised of 15 individuals with diverse interests, occupations and cultures.  My personal interests as they relate to Cuba fell into the following areas:

Jerry Pennick observing raised bed vegetable production

Religion and Development 

The religious community is playing an important role in Cuba’s sustainable development process.  For the most part the church is on the ground working hand-in-hand with the people as they implement alternative agriculture and rural development strategies.  The relationship is one of mutual respect and shared values.  In Cuba, faith is not dead.  It is accompanied by hard work and good deeds.  Ironically the church and state tentatively co-exists in a manner that allows both to struggle against a common enemy- the embargo- while maintaining separate ideologies and values.   Although separation of church and state is the cornerstone of the U. S. Constitution, Cuba may be a truer representation of that concept than is the U. S. where it is being weakened by recent political events and the influence of the not-so-Christian right on the government and political process. 

While the relationship of the church and state is evolving and promising in Cuba, it is regrettable that the predominately Afro-Cuban religion that has its roots in Africa and the Catholic church ? some call it voodoo - is frowned upon by secular as well as traditional religious communities, and not given a seat at the table.  Some in the traditional church are beginning to recognize this omission and reach out to this important segment of society.  It is imperative that they continue to do so in order to gain a better understanding of the people and to have any degree of success in their evangelical efforts.

The church is key to sustainable development in Cuba as is the case in the U. S.  The church for the most part has the influence and respect of the people; how it will ultimately use or misuse that respect and influence in both countries is yet to be answered.

Miessha Thomas and Ben Burkett 
observing raised bed vegetable production

Sustainable Agriculture and Trade

Cuba combines appropriate technology, low input agriculture, organic production, local marketing, urban gardening and cooperative principles into a model sustainable agriculture system.  Although the ability to feed itself has always been a key component of the Cuban revolution the need for this particular system was brought on by two outside forces, the illegal and unfair U. S. embargo and the fall of the Soviet Union, which was Cuba’s major trading partner.  The fact, however, is that Cuba’s sustainable agricultural system has become a beacon of hope for those developing countries and rural communities in the U. S. that are struggling to achieve food sovereignty.  Their success will require the active support of governments that demand agricultural systems that support and preserve communities over corporations.

Although Cuba does need to import some food items in order to improve the quality of life for it citizens, hunger does not appear to be a problem.  Just as in any other country, arable land in Cuba in finite, yet its agricultural system is able to meet its citizens’ basic nutritional needs.  That will not be the case forever; which is why ethics, law and common sense demand that Cuba become an equal partner in the community of nations where it can not only receive the same assistance as does most other countries but more countries can benefit from Cuba’s experience and expertise.

Cuba’s current trade policies are small and minority farmer friendly.  Although it must rely on multi-nationals to provide some products in the necessary quantities, Cuba is open to doing business with small and minority farmers in the U. S.  The challenge is for these farmers to work together - cooperatively - in order to meet Cuba’s demand.  Small and minority farmers in America as well as Cuba’s farmers are interested in the kind of trade that transcends commodities to include the sharing of culture and technology in order to form alliances that will empower both to survive and prosper within the context of a globalized economy that is based on classism and racism. 

The question then becomes, once the embargo is lifted, can Cuba maintain its current agricultural system or will it fall victim to agriculture and trade policies that favor corporations over family farms and locally controlled food systems.  Most Cuban’s seem to believe that they have the infrastructure and commitment to maintain that system; however Cuba should study and learn from the struggle against consolidation and the evils of globalization that the American family farmer faces daily if it is to have any real chance of success.

Jerry Pennick, Shirley Sherrod, Ben Burkett and 
Miessha Thomas at sun screen raised bed production facility

Race and Its Impacts on Cuban Society

Racism in Cuba is officially banned.  It is a touchy subject, yet when pressed most Cubans will open up and engage in frank discussion.

Cubans admit that although racism is banned, "you cannot ban it from the mind."  They recognize the role Afro-Cubans played and continue to play in Cuba’s revolution.  They understand that it was largely the "white rich" Cubans who left following the revolution and continue to leave today.  Most Afro-Cubans who leave, do so for economic reasons brought on by the embargo not because of dissatisfaction with the government.

In the agricultural sector, there appears to be few Afro-Cubans in leadership roles; however, they are well represented in the government, military and police.  Afro-Cubans also appear not to have equal access to higher education.  This may be due to the fact that white Cuban-Americans are able to send money to their relatives who can then afford the tutors and materials necessary to equip their children with the necessary tools to prepare for Cuba’s difficult college entrance exam.  Sounds familiar! 

 Just as in America, Cuba’s problems with race stem from hundreds of years of slavery, discrimination and perceived white superiority.  The difference is that Cubans accept that racism exists, and will, though sometimes reluctantly, discuss it and are actually seeking solutions.

Cuba must be visited with an open mind, which I believe will lead a rational and fair individual to conclude that contrary to the belief of pseudo-revolutionaries, Cuba is not a utopia, but it is also not the hell hole depicted by the U. S. government and some Cuban-American descendants of the oppressors that were overthrown by the Cuban revolution.  Cuba, as we know it is less than 50 years old.  No individual or government should be expected to achieve in that short period of time what the U. S. has not achieved in over four hundred years.

Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund
2769 Church Street
East Point, GA 30344
404 765 0991
www.federation.coop