Cuba moves control of farms to councils to increase production

HAVANA (AP) — Cuba announced a major shake-up of its troubled farm sector on May Day, shifting control of the island’s farms from officials at the Agriculture Ministry to more than 150 local councils.

The move is part of an effort to increase food production and reduce Cuba’s dependance on imports. It came as hundreds of thousands of Cubans marched Thursday in a May Day parade that was shorter than usual, reflecting the style of new President Raul Castro.

The Communist Party newspaper Granma said 169 new agricultural coordinating councils — made up of local officials — would take over control of the farm sector, and the government is considering slashing 104 state-run agricultural departments. Granma said relying on local farm leaders to make more decisions will “stimulate agricultural production.”

, perfect its sale and increase the availability of food and, in this way, substitute imports.”

Salvador Valdes Mesa, head of the nearly 3 million-strong Cuban Workers Confederation, used his brief International Workers Day speech to urge government employees to work harder and increase efficiency.