Cuba: Congress of Farmers Ended with New Tasks Ahead

The 11th Congress of the National Association of Small Farmers (ANAP) assessed as positive the economic activity the cooperatives are developing, and called for a more comprehensive use of bank credit and insurance.

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 sector’s 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.

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.