Artemisa, Cuba - Batalla de las Guasimas Basic Unit Cooperative Enterprise (UBPC ) in San Antonio de los Baños has faced inclement weather, occasional plague, lacks in the special period and many other hindrances for more than two decades. Nothing surprises men and women working in that entity, precisely because they know how to anticipate everything, and support the basis of their development in hard work, daily work, savings and planning.

Just over 300 hectares of land, a third of which are destined for tobacco, flourish by the efforts of 135 cooperative members; the majority (107), women, headed by Aurelio Santiesteban, Hero of Work of the Republic of Cuba and Habano Man.

In the selection stage there is a constant hustle and bustle. The commitment is to benefit the 200 tons collected and achieve 37 layer, a figure that clearly must surpass, then, just over half of the total, already exceeded 27 layer, said Yumilka Revé, head of the selection stage where the average salary is around 1,300 pesos per month.

There, we can find the experience of men like Wilfredo Ruiz, with 16 years of work and young Adriagna Cid, who has been here for four years . She thanks the support at the beginning and the training to successfully develop her functions as a classifying opener.

We also find a mother and her daughter: Daysi Michel and Aniuska Veranes, dedicated to the meticulous task of separating and classifying leaves according to their quality, in export layer, consumption and gut, the final destinations of UBPC production. They are like a big family: all permanent workers, and even some have found the love.

Outside, in the countryside, there is also activity, in order to arrive October 10, the official start date of the 2018-2019 campaign, with advance work. The lands involved in this stage are already under preparation, plowing, crossing and reappearing, and the sowing of postures was fulfilled.

The workforce, the weakest part in many cooperatives, is complete here, as is the machinery and money for everything you need, because this entity, unlike many, works without bank loans.

Secrets of profitability

Aurelio Santiesteban reveals some of the secrets to success. The main one, is to work hard and with a lot of planning, so that no contingency affects campaign results , and it does have a negative impact on workers salary.

"We have been profitable sin 1997, and we have been increasing profits from one campaign to another, to the point that in the past we had incomes of 48 million pesos: five were distributed in stimulus to workers, and we have a decisive contribution to local development, with one percent of the profits, "Santiesteban says.

The other great secret lies in saving. "Here we sow our own poles, and we eliminate the transfer costs from Pinar del Río. In addition, we produce earthworm humus with the excrement of some 200 cattle that, at the same time, guarantee milk for workers and for Nueva Empresa population setllement".

More than 400 rams and a portion of land destined for beans and meats guarantee self-sufficiency, while the expenses for workers food decrease.

National Vanguards for more than 20 consecutive years, these workers do not give up in the effort to achieve ever higher quality tobacco leaves to produce Habanos, cigars of great demand in the world market that generate the country income not despicable and to help in Health and Education.

TRANSLATION BY LMMS