Artemisa, Cuba - Women and men with several years of experience in henequen plantations know even the smallest detail of this plant’s secrets.
Before the Revolution’s triump the henequen factory already existed in Mariel township . Many decades passed until in 2009 the industry stopped due to an accident, caused by breaking of a machine device , and it was almost entirely destroyed.
"From that moment on , plantations maintenance , nursery garden and planting directly in the field continued , as well as mallets cutting which were sent to the shredder in Matanzas Province for processing.
"Then the final production was brought back to market, and transportations costs made it more expensive," says Jesus Columbié, senior specialist in the Brigade, assigned to the Artemisa Integral Forestry Basic Unit Enterprise(UEB).
Most of workers live in the village known as Henequén, referring to its main source of employment. So a new event in July 2014, was welcomed: the beginning of the industry revival , with consequent benefit in several locals.
The press machine was repaired thanks to the actions of Costa Sur Integral Forest Enterprise (to which they belong) and the support of workers themselves. Two months later they received a shredder machine from Brazil, with capacity to produce 1.8 to 2 tons of dry fiber in eight hours.
"This machine was assembled in Mariel and other in Cienfuegos Province. They both with new technology , the only one of its kind in the world, because only Brazil manufactures equipment for henequen defibration ," says José Antonio Quintana, a specialist in this factory from Ministry of Agriculture.
In mid-November the machine began operating , with the presence of Brazilian specialists . And, as a proof, last year they got five tons of fibers.
"Mariel was a productive entity with excellent results; henequen in this area has good performance and quality. In the 70s they achieved 4000 tons. When the industry stopped , as time went by , many plantations deteriorated " Quintana says.
Established tradition
Ana Rosa has worked in the factory since she was 24 , and very soon she will turn 25 linked to such work. "I've done everything; I followed a tradition, most of my family has worked here. "
Like her, Esperanza, Juan, Fe Maria and others have long been linked to henequen. They work from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm to join forces to achieve a common goal.
Young people like Alexander and Yorislandy also take part in this task, and there are persons who come back to this place: Marta Teresa, head of industrial brigade, worked for about five years before ceasing operations, and returned in July 2014.
"The defibration process is vital for obtaining and selling the products derived from this, with the best quality."
This year the 68 members of the brigade have a mission to fulfill a plan of planting 134 hectares, and expect to obtain 130 tons of fibers. Among the major productions, there are ropes, twine, clotheslines, dusters and brushes.
Currently they recover henequen juice to market (and have 480 liters), and hired the waste to be sold as animal feed. The factory has customers in Havana City, Pinar del Rio and Mayabeque.
After five years devoted only to the planting and cutting, the henequen producers have returned to their daily work with renewed spirit .
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