NRCS Soil Conservation and Management Information Exchange with Cuba.

The intent of the USDA-NRCS visit to Cuba during December 2016 trip was to exchange information regarding soil conservation, management and irrigation. The USDA team met with Ministry of Agriculture (MINAG) staff, Soils Institute, Agricultural Engineering Institute, municipal and provincial technical experts of MINAG, cooperatives and producers in the Havana Province. Field visits were made to various sustainable land area demos and several organic and urban agriculture farms. There were excellent exchange discussions about soil management, soil conservation, agroforestry, irrigation and drainage, as well as soil survey, conservation delivery and building sustainable farming systems. Discussion included conservation issues and opportunities Cuba is facing and also the advances made in urban and organic agriculture with biofertilizers, vermiculture, biopesticides, energy conservation and surface irrigation. Due to the drastically reduced availability of chemical inputs, Cuba replaced them with locally produced, and in most cases biological, substitutes. This has included biopesticides (microbial products) and natural enemies to combat insect pests, resistant plant varieties, crop rotations and microbial antagonists to combat plant pathogens, and better rotations and cover cropping to suppress weeds. Scarce synthetic fertilizers were supplemented by biofertilizers, earthworms, compost, other organic fertilizers, animal and green manures, and the integration of grazing animals. NRCS’ unique model approach for soil survey and conservation/watershed planning for sustainable agriculture was received very well by the Cuban counterparts. Initial recommendations were discussed for future follow-up between NRCS and MINAG, including soil management and sustainable agriculture. Further discussion of future collaboration will be made with NRCS leadership and technical disciplines as well as partners. During this poster presentation, solicitation of input from partners will be made as to further exchange opportunities.