New-York tribune., 1918-02-18
Small Production Due to
Antiquated Methods of
Island Farmers
OK and Crooked Stick
Government Should Import
Machinery and Increase
Planted Area
By George Reno,

Director Publicity Bureau Cuban Government
No lesson daduced from the present
world war is Of greater moment than
the fact that every nation should be
prepared, if possible, to feed its people
Independently Of outside help when
ever emergency may demand. That
Cuba is not thus prepared is more than
manifest.
To have money with which to buy
foodstuffs will not suffice il the food
desired is not in the market. Even
satisfactory exchange Of commodities
is not always possible. The United
States can get along without our sugar
better than we can do without her flour.
lard, hams, bacon, potatoes, condensed
milk, etc.
The present unpleasant shortage Of
food was prophesied and the warning
given US last August. Mr.. Hoover
stated very clearly at that time and
often since: "Our allies, who are
straining every nerve to keep sufficient
men on the firing line to hold back the
enemy, must and shall pc fed first. II
there is anything over we will gladly
share it with you. If not, all Of US who
are not in the trenches will have to
hustle"
The emergency is here; we are feel.
ing the pinch Of unaccustomed priva-
ton. We have no wheat, no bread, no
lard. Everything in the shape Of food
is cXorbitantly high. Many Of us have
Il -
ever may be asked, but the needed ma
tcrlal is not to be had at any price.
How long this condition may con-
tinue no Ole knows. 1t may be mat
ter Of months, and it may be of years;
moro likely the latter. We are caught
unprepared. The question is, What shall
we do to relieve the situation as quick
ly IS possible?
We are late in breaking ground for
crisis that is already with US, but bet
ter late than never.
Richest Island in World
Cuba is naturally the richest island
in the world. Her agricultural possi-
bilities are almost beyond belief. We
can grow food enough to support co.
100000 or more, and yet we are at this
moment on the verge Of hunger, with
only paltry 100000 population to
feed.
With 25,oOo,ooO acres, an excellent
climate and abundant rainfall; with
land that will produce corn, rice, beans,
bananas. honiatos, potatoes, cabbages.
squash, turnips, beets and tomatoes in
plenty, and notwithstanding the fact
that nearly every fruit and vegetable
known to either temperate zone or
troplc Is grown here, We at this moment
find ourselves short Of food and beg
ging for provisions from abroad.
The reason is simple and only too
evident. We have acquired the habit
OF depending almost entirely on two
crops-cane and tobacco; both Of them
useful, perhaps, in the economy Of life,
but neither adapted to sustain it alone
In Agricultural Rut
We have followed the line OF least
resistance, regardless of possible con-
sequences. We have dropped into an
agricultural rut and not taken the
trouble to even study how others get
out. Aside from the making of sugar
we have not kept pace with the times.
We are still clinging to the methods
OF the middle ages. We are still using
the steel shoe on u crooked limb to
break up ground. We still dawdle
along behind the .plodding OK, content
w el'A' ONSA ~ IidAL acre VI lana z Q2T
and cultivate or weed it with a hoe.
And it is the same tendency to cling
to the obsolete OK, to try to plough
with pointed stick ans cultivate fields
with q hoe that Keeps our native farmer
poor, that compels him to live on q dir.
floor under the thatched roof of a
cherries bohio.
Our Cuban farmer is surrounded with
all the advantages of rich soil, rain
fall, shade and sunshine, and yet he is
mlserably poor: He has neither snow,
frost nor freezing cold to contend with.
and yet it is hard fer him to live. He
hears little, sees little, travels little
and saves little. He can't enjoy life
because he can't make ends meet; he is
most of the year iii debt. His case,
without help. is hopeless. His future
and that of his children, unless some
way out of this pitiful condition Of
poverty is found, is without promise.
lie has pride; he is not lazy or