Cuba to Increase Areas to Grow Tobacco

In coincidence with the birth of union leader Lázaro Peña, Pinar del Río celebrated the Tobacco Worker Day, a date in which the men and women of the sector are honored.

The main event was held in San Juan y Martinez municipality due to the favorable results of the tobacco mecca, as the region is known worlwide.

Cuba, will increase by almost 2,000 the areas dedicated to this crop, confirmed sources of Tabacuba business group.

Gonzalo Rodríguez, the agricultural head of the entity, stated that the nation will plant 20,970 hectares in the next campaign beginning in October, 2,000 more than in the previous period, in order to respond to the growing demand of the cigarette and cigar industries.

Of this total, 19,000 hectares are located in Pinar del Río, considered the largest producer of the leaf in the country and where the so-called first and second vegas that print the seal of quality to the leaf are settled.

Pinar also contributes with 65% of the total national production, all the gut and cloak necessary for the elaboration of the famous cigars and the variety Burley, used in the blends.

In this province also comes to life the Virginia project, which, destined to supply raw material to the cigarette factory of the Special Development Zone of Mariel, arose in the municipality of Consolación del Sur and will extend to Pinar del Río and San Luis from this year.

The ceremony was attended by Gladys Martínez Verdecia, member of the Central Committe and first secretary of the Party in the province; Julio Andrés García, viceminister of Agriculture in the country, as well as other authorities of the sector.