Food production and import substitution in the Cuban reform process

Abstract

Since General Raúl Castro became president of Cuba, he has frequently expressed deep concern about issues related to the country’s agricultural sector, as might be expected. The agricultural sector is critical to economic development; it increases the food supply for domestic consumption, frees up the workforce to be employed in secondary and tertiary sectors, expands the market for products from industry and services, and increases the availability of domestic savings to finance investment and acquire foreign exchange.