The Egg Production Crisis in Cuba: The Harsh Reality Behind the Shortage
The egg shortage in Cuba, a problem that citizens sensed but which had rarely been addressed transparently by authorities, has finally been confirmed. The Poultry Company of Sancti Spíritus has admitted that egg production in the province has come to a complete halt due to serious issues with feeding the birds. Aliesky Guevara Molina, the company’s director, shared alarming details about the situation, explaining how the lack of food over extended periods has decimated production and led to a massive culling of hens.
Feeding Crisis: Birds Without Nutrients and Production Halted
The primary cause of this crisis lies in the inability to provide adequate feed for the hens. According to Guevara Molina, the birds went 12 days without receiving the necessary food, resulting in a massive deterioration of their physical condition and, consequently, their productive capacity. “Egg production in the province remains at zero because the animals went 12 days without consuming feed,” stated the director. This prolonged deficit has left irreversible damage, requiring a lengthy recovery process for the affected birds.
Throughout the year, the situation has been extremely uncertain. The birds’ feeding regimen has relied on temporary solutions, with feed made from rice or even pure rice, methods that, though palliative, are insufficient to maintain production levels. In an extreme case, the hens went five days without food, which forced the company to cull between 45,000 and 50,000 animals that could no longer recover a healthy state.
Mass Culling and Reduction of Productive Stock
The food crisis in the farms has had devastating consequences. The lack of food and the physical decline of the birds led the company to sacrifice a significant portion of its poultry population. Under normal circumstances, animals are culled based on age; however, the crisis forced the decision to cull birds whose condition had deteriorated beyond recovery. Nonetheless, the company still retains around 220,000 birds, a figure that, according to Guevara Molina, could serve as a foundation to attempt to revive production in the future, as long as the feed supply stabilizes.
Skyrocketing Prices in the Informal Market: The Reality for Cubans
The egg shortage has driven prices in the informal market to unprecedented levels, where a carton of eggs can reach up to 5,000 Cuban pesos, a nearly unimaginable amount for many Cubans. This situation has drawn criticism from the public, who often blame poultry companies for the supply instability and high prices of this essential product. However, Guevara Molina defended his company’s management, clarifying that egg distribution is not controlled by poultry entities but by the Ministry of Economy, which decides the final destination of the eggs.
The director also explained that the eggs sold at high prices in the informal market do not come from local production but are imported and distributed by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) at unrestricted prices, in an effort by the Cuban government to meet demand, albeit at prices inaccessible to many. “Those are eggs authorized for import by SMEs, which can sell them at unrestricted prices; it’s one of the ways the country has tried to ensure that, even at a steep price, people who can afford them can buy them,” explained Guevara Molina.
Transformation in Cuba’s Poultry Sector: Expectations and Uncertainty
The situation in the Cuban poultry sector is critical, and the future of egg production remains uncertain. Guevara Molina stated that poultry companies are undergoing a transformation process, though it’s still unclear how this reorganization will unfold or what its impact on egg production and distribution will be. This change is part of a broader effort to restructure several productive sectors on the island, aiming to find sustainable solutions that alleviate the burden on the Cuban basic food basket.
The Need for a Comprehensive Response to a Structural Problem
The egg production crisis in Cuba highlights a profound issue affecting not only the poultry sector but also the population’s access to basic food products. The lack of adequate feed for the birds, resource shortages, and distribution complications reflect a system in urgent need of structural changes and sustainable solutions. The public admission of the situation by a director represents a first step towards transparency and could serve as a foundation for a deeper reflection on the sector’s needs.
