cuban urban farming

CUBAN URBAN FARMINGPenny White Award Project

Shannon Simms + Vanessa Cheung

BACKGROUNDMajor food production in urban and peri-urban areas is prevalent all over the world, particularly in non-western cities, but nowhere else has it developed with such strong governmental support as in Cuba.

Urban agriculture was widely implemented in Cuban cities after the 1989 collapse of the Soviet Bloc and the 1991 end of the COMECON economic organization. Being an island, Cuba was heavily reliant on trade, and the collapse turned the Cuban economy upside down almost overnight. This time in Cuban history is known as the “Special Period in the Time of Peace.” Since Cuba had no secure source of petrol, food grown in the rural areas of the nation could not be transported to the cities. A food crisis began.

What is most interesting about the evolution of urban agriculture in Cuban cities is that it was government sponsored from the very beginning. Even before the economic collapse, the Cuban Ministry of Defense, in an exploration into import substitution, was experimenting with urban agriculture technologies. The ministry developed the early organopónicos, which are large raised beds of soil and organic matter. When the food crisis hit, the government responded by authorizing the use of state-owned vacant lots for farming. They also gave trainings, and provided seeds and tools for people to farm these lots.

Today, Havana is producing more than 50% of its fresh produce within the city limits, with 12% of its land base dedicated to food production. This was not a practice that faded at the end of the food crisis: it became an established part of the local economy and the urban fabric, and has endured for 20 years. While this phenomenon has been document by many researchers in terms of economics and farming techniques, not many studies have looked at the farms in the urban context or at them as a model to incorporate into new city planning.

OBJECTIVEOur research proposal focuses on urban agriculture in Havana and Cienfuegos, Cuba.

Havana – This city has grown radially from the center over time. Farming at the center of the city as very small scale and sparse; plots increase in size toward the periphery. As the capital and largest city, Havana houses many Ministry of Agriculture officials and university intellectuals who focus on urban agriculture.

Cienfuegos – 4.5 hours southeast of Havana. This city is organized in clear grid planned pattern, is less dense, different form Havana. It is known as “the capital of urban agriculture” in Cuba for wide spread use of organopónicos.

Our MethodWe observed both using aerial photographs and on the ground observation the morphology of the different cities, focusing on how urban farms are physically situated into this context. We observed individual functioning urban farm plots in each city. We collected data about the different urban farm typologies as they may differ within the city, and studied the different inputs and outputs associated with each type. We will discussed urban agriculture with local farmers, neighbors and market vendors.

organopónicos | raised beds

MILITARY FARM MILITARY FARM

CLUSTEREDORGANOPONICOS

ORGANOPONICOVIVERO ALAMAR

HAVANA

centro viejavedado

nuevovedado

miramar

regla

LOCATIONS

We explored the neighborhoods of Miramar, Vedado, Nuevo Vedado, Centro, Vieja, and Regla in Havana. We found organopónicos primarily urban neighborhoods that were not the most dense, central neighborhoods in the city, but were still quite urban.

typical raised bed: dimensions organoponico construction

min 2’-wide path

STRUCTUREraised beds irrigation compost farm stand

The structure of the whole plot consists of long, narrow raised beds with fairly standard dimensions of 4 feet wide, 8 inches above ground, and various lengths. There is a minimum 2’ wide path between them.

STRUCTURE

raised beds irrigation compost farm stand

The beds are constructed usually out of recycled materials, such as scrap metal, rocks, concrete blocks, and terra cotta tiles, and are supported by rebar.


There are a variety of irrigation methods: very low sprinkler systems, underground pumps, powered by wind or by gravity.

STRUCTURE


A major input for the organopónico is a high percent of organic material. This makes the bed high yielding. Lots of this material is imported from rural areas, which makes it one of the more expensive inputs for new farms, before they begin composting on their own.

STRUCTURE

STRUCTUREraised beds irrigation compost farm stand

We found that organopónicos sell their produce directly from the farm. Some have structures for this purpose, others don’t and the farmer harvests the produce on the spot. Here in the bottom we see farmer Eladio selling freshly harvested lettuce to a neighbor.

case studies

CASE STUDIES: HAVANA

We found a cluster of organopónicos on El Paseo in southern Vedado near the Plaza de Revolucion.

Organopónico de ELADIOThe first one we visited was manned by farmer Eladio. This organopónico was 18 beds across. It was farmed by two people including Eladio. There is no farm stand, and while we were there several neighbors came by the farm to buy freshly harvested lettuce, chives, aloe and other vegetables.

Organopónico de COCUNIAcross the street from Eladio’s farm was Senor Cocuni, whose organopónico grew medicinal plants. This farm was much more informal and small. There is no farm stand, so buyers come and speak to Cocuni about what they need. His farm was full of herbaceous plants and trees, many of which were from Africa and India. Cocuni did not know all the names of the plants, but knew what ailments they were for. A larger organopónico across the street has 31 beds, grew lettuce, bok choy, cilantro, beets and other vegetables, but was not open at the time that we were there.

Organopónico VIVERO ALAMARIn east Havana, we found Organopónico Vivero Alamar, which has been documented as an exemplary organponicos in Cuba. We spoke with farmer Andres, who has worked here for 3 years. The farm employs 103 workers, who work daily from 8am to 3pm. This includes volunteer students and people from the neighboring high rise buildings, who come to work 2-3 times a week. This is the most diverse organopónico we found. In addition to raised beds, they have sugar cane, banana, guava and other fruit tree plantations. Their irrigation system is wind powered. There is an elaborate farm stand that sells juice, veggies and seedlings and ornamental plants.

Organopónicos MILITARYWe also found two different organopónicos operated by the ministry of defense. we were not permitted to enter either of these farms. these farms were both fairly large, with poured concrete beds. The farm in Miramar, where we were able to speak to a farmer but not go inside to take photos, has elaborate public programming, including youth programs and nutrition workshops. This farm was actually the original organopónico developed by the Ministry of Defense to test out new farming techniques.




HAVANA

centro viejavedado

nuevovedado

miramar

regla

Organopónico de Eladio

Organopónico de Cocuni

El PaseoCalle 33

Calle 35

organopónico de ELADIO




HAVANA

centro viejavedado

nuevovedado

miramar

regla

Organopónico de Eladio

Organopónico de Cocuni

El PaseoCalle 33

Calle 35

organopónico de COCUNI




HAVANA

centro viejavedado

nuevovedado

miramar

regla

organopónico VIVERO ALAMAR




HAVANA

centro viejavedado

nuevovedado

miramar

regla

Av. 5

Calle 44

San Pedro

Av. I

ndep

ende

ncia

organopónicos MILITARY

CASE STUDIES: CIENFUEGOSIn Cienfugeos, we visited four organopónicos, all of which were north of the downtown. The following examples were the most distinct from the organopónicos found in Havana.

Organopónico LAS FLORESOne cluster of organponicos included two flower farms and a vegetable farm, which were all operated by different farmers. One of the flower farms grew sunflowers in constructed raised beds, while the other grew roses, carnations, and narcissus flowers out of mounded beds and sold them for mothers day and other holidays.

Organopónico TALLERES AGROPECUARIOSWe also found a large organopónico on the edge of town generically called “Organopónico Talleres Agropecuarios”. This two acre farm employes 10 people, including Rafael, and grows many different vegetables (lettuce, onion, radishes, carrots) out of poured concrete beds, which each have a merigold planted at the end to serve as a pesticide.

ORGANOPONICOTALLERES AGROPECUARIOS

ORGANOPONICOLA CALZADA

ORGANOPONICOLAS FLORES

CIENFUEGOS

organopónicos en CIENFUEGOS




CIENFUEGOS

Organopónico La Calzada

Organopónico Las Flores

Av. 64

organopónico de LAS FLORES




CIENFUEGOS

Av. 64

organopónico TALLERES AGROPECUARIOS

from ORGANOPÓNICOS to AGROPECUARIOS

from OrganopónicoS to AGROPECUARIOS

agropecuarios | markets

centrovieja

vedado

nuevovedado

LOCATIONS

Agropecuarios are Cuban farmers markets that sell produce grown in suburban farms. We found that the agropecuarios operate very differently from the organopónicos, as they are highly controlled by the state. We found several in Havana, usually on street corners.

STRUCTURE

cadeca customs office vending units price cap charts amenities

Agropecuarios have a few standard components, including CADECA (casas de cambio), which is a money exchange point where Cubans can change CUC to pesos if they need. The markets only accept pesos.

Opposite: These are the vending units, which come in a variety of forms.

STRUCTURE


Every market also has a list of the price ceilings for different items, which are set by the government.

STRUCTURE


Market places also have other amenities, juice stand, phones, etc.

STRUCTURE


case study

MERCADO 19 y B

The most robust market we found was in Havana was in El Vedado, called Mercado 19 y B (the address).

In that market we met Luis, who is a student at the University of Havana studying accounting. He was there to fill in for a friend who usually mans the stand. He explained that the vendors each rent their own space to sell goods, in addition to paying a 10% on their sales to the government, which at the market is the Oficina de los Declaraciones.

Each morning, trucks arrive from the suburban farms full of produce, and each vendor buys what he thinks will sell that day. While the government sets the price ceiling on each item, but the vender may adjust the price beneath the cap to boost sales.

Anyone who wants to sell a processed good or medicines must get a special license to do so. The vendor next to Luis had a license to sell fresh and dried herbs and roasted nuts.

MERCADO 19 y B

LUIS

MERCADO 19 y B

VENDORS

MERCADO 19 y B

PRICE CEILINGS LIST

MAN sellingMEDS + PROCESSED GOODS

MERCADO 19 y B

social benefits

QUEUES

NEIGHBORHOOD FARMS

This system of urban markets and farms gives cubans variation on their rationed diet. Imported goods are very expensive, only available to people who earn CUC (from tourism or remittances). The photos on the opposite page are of a line for eggs at a government egg store.

The farms and markets we found were embedded in residential neighborhoods, and were able to serve people within walking distance. The farms are a fixture in each neighborhood: sales directly from the farm keep neighbors well connected to their farmers, creating a social relationship between grower and consumer.

We found pretty large size variations among the farms, and they all seemed very clean and well managed. We can imagine that the organopónico model and the agropecuario model can continue to work in new spaces in the city, but this would depend entirely on continued government support and regulation, especially post-embargo when there will be increased investment and trade.

the weather reportFROM CUBA

DAY 1: FRIGGIN COLD

DAY 2:SUNNY AND...

COLD

DAY 3: WARMING UP...

DAY 4: STILL COLD

DAY 5: SUSPICIOUSLY GREY

DAY 6: WARM + SUNNY!

DAY 7: HOT!!

DAY 8:TROPICAL

DAY 9: PERFECTO

cuban urban farming

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