Given intensive replanting work, the officers project a target of 400 tons per acre for the year 2000. No one, however, expects to see the yield of 1000 tons per acre achieved at the peak of chemical and mechanical inputs, if only because organic fertilizer is also in short supply. On the other hand, the high cost of those inputs has been greatly reduced. The cooperative members farm 1500 hectares mostly in sugar cane, with a vegetable garden of forty hectares for the co-op members. Given restricted petroleum fuel, much tilling is done by animal traction, and cultivation by hand.
Animal manure is a major source of fertilizer.
The appeal of democratic self-government was a strong influence in persuading them to return to the rigors of sugar cane growing. The work of harvesting sugar cane is particularly intense, but producing cane also demands that members plant, cultivate, maintain equipment and animals, and grow food throughout the year. The harvested sugar cane is sold to the state. A contract for a specified tonnage is drawn up at the start of the season. If more is delivered, there are profits and bonuses to distribute among the members.