Beyond the “special period”: land reform, supermarkets and the prospects for peasant-driven food sovereignty in post-socialist Cuba (2008–2017)

Abstract

When Cuba’s trade-based food security strategy was threatened by the collapse of the socialist trading block in 1989–1991, the popular response of small and irregular farmers proved vital in providing a minimum food basket during the ensuing crisis. In 2008, a large-scale land reform sought to expand this development towards food sovereignty. We evaluate the reform impacts, finding that after an initial surge in 2009–2010, food production and land use have rebounded and stagnated at pre-reform levels. Peasant-led agricultural development is forestalled by inaccessibility of appropriate technologies, perceived land tenure insecurity, missing/deficient markets and competition from import-based supermarket chains.