A detailed examination of Cuban agriculture was published in March 2008 ago by the US Department of Agriculture, Office of Global Analysis. Somehow it escaped my attention. The full report is located here: Cuba’s Food & Agriculture Situation Report, USDA, 2008
The study includes a lot of detailed information with plentiful graphics and tables. It is especially useful in detailing US agricultural relations with Cuba – the US having quickly squeezed out Canada as principal exporter of foodstuffs to Cuba as soon as such exports were legalized in 2002. Below is the Table of Contents plus a few charts.
Table of Contents
Executive Summary
The Historical Context Underlying U.S.–Cuban Relations
Economic Background
Cuba’s Natural Resource Base and Demographic Characteristics
Population, Food Consumption and Nutrition Issues
Tourism and the Demand for Agricultural Products
Cuba’s Market Infrastructure and the Role of Institutions in Cuba’s Food and
Agricultural Sector
Cuba’s International Trade Situation
Other Observations
Summary and Conclusions
Addendum Current Commodity Sector Situations
Sugar
Tobacco
Citrus
Tropical Fruit
Vegetable, Pulse, and Tuber and Root Crops
Livestock and Poultry
Coffee
Fishing
Appendix 1: Summary of Flowcharts on Cuba’s Food Supply and Distribution Systemand the Hard Currency Food Chain: Implications for U.S. Exporters
Appendix 2: Cuban Agriculture and Food Trade Data