Havana - Deputy Agriculture Minister Maury Hechavarria stated the agri-food sector is a strategic priority for the country, seeing significant transformations to boost its development.

Such measures are based on a clear policy of replacing imports by strengthening national production, Hechavarria noted during the initial Workshop of the Country Program 'Strategic Support for Sustainable Food Security in Cuba' (SAS-Cuba).

The Ministry of Agriculture (MINAG), with financial support from the European Union (EU), has been working for the past 10 years on cooperation initiatives to strengthen the development of the country's capacities to increase food production, Hechavarria explained.

This includes the transition to and incorporation of systemic and intersectoral agroecological approaches, local economic development, equity, environment and climate change adaptation, which have contributed to the national import replacement strategy.

EU Ambassador to Cuba Alberto Navarro noted in the workshop that the program includes aspects related to resistance to climate change.

The project seeks to sustainably increase the production of quality food to meet local demand, specifically through the application of innovative, environmental and climate-resilient approaches, he explained.

Representatives and specialists from the ministries and institutions linked to the program, Resident Coordinator of the United Nations System in Cuba, Consuelo Vidal, UNDP resident representative Maribel Gutierrez, FAO representative Marcelo Resende, MINAG International Relations Director Moraima Cespedes, and other executives, also participated in the event.