Project profile — Strengthening the Fruit Production Chains in Cuba

• Cuba (100.00%)

• Public sector policy and administrative management:
Public sector policy and administrative management (15110) (20.00%)
Decentralisation and support to subnational government (15112) (20.00%)
• Agricultural policy and administrative management:
Agricultural policy and administrative management (31110) (40.00%)
Agricultural co-operatives (31194) (20.00%)

• Environmental sustainability (cross-cutting) (significant objective)
• Gender equality (significant objective)
• Participatory development and good governance (significant objective)
• Climate Change Adaptation (significant objective)

The project aims to increase food security in Cuba through strengthening three fruit production chains (mangos, guava and papaya) in order to satisfy demand, and generate sustainable development that allows import substitution. The project seeks to improve the performance and management of fruit production chains at the local level in five municipalities in the provinces of Artemisa and Santiago. The project aims to increase fruit production between 15 and 30% in the five targeted municipalities, and update the national fruit strategy from the findings and lessons learned of these local experiences. Project activities include: (1) supporting coordination between local and national actors, and decision makers in the fruit chain; (2) strengthening the capacity of national and local actors to conduct assessments and prepare strategies using a value chain approach; (3) developing and implementing tools to effectively involve women and youth, and promote energy efficiency in value chain assessments and planning; (4) training farmers in fruit cooperatives in agro-techniques, management and market studies, with an emphasis on training women and youth; (5) providing equipment and inputs to strengthen fruit cooperatives capacities to increase fresh and processed fruit production and sales; (6) supporting cooperatives in the implementation of quality control mechanisms; (7) training direct (for example, preparation for retail and industry, cleaning and storage, processing, distribution and commercialization) and indirect (service and input providers such as seeds, fertilizers and pesticides, soils studies and water provision, packaging, and transport) actors in the value chain approach; (8) providing equipment and inputs to strengthen the capacity of these key actors in the value chain to help overcome bottlenecks identified in the assessments; and (9) implementing enabling practices to incorporate gender equality and promote youth employment among direct and indirect actors of the value chain.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) enhanced local and national capacities to assess, plan, manage, and commercialize fruit production, applying a value chain approach that integrates gender equality and energy efficiency; (2) increased capacity of cooperatives to sustainably produce, process, and market fresh and processed fruits on a demand-responsive basis, ensuring opportunities for women and youth; and (3) improved sustainable and equitable operation of the value chain through the strengthening of direct and indirect actors relevant to the chain.

Results achieved at the end of the project (December 2024) include: (1) increased production of fruits (mango, guava and papaya) by 30% in 2 of the 5 targeted municipalities. 90% of beneficiary farms in all 5 municipalities managed to increase the production of 1 of these 3 fruits by at least 30%; (2) updated Cuba’s 2030 National Strategy for Fruit Production through a participatory process. The update integrated the project’s findings and lessons learned and promoted approaches and results of various studies carried out by the project. These studies include an economic-financial and market study of the papaya value chain, analysis of the chains from a population and development perspective, analysis of energy efficiency or renewable energy use in the chains, and a gender equality analysis; (3) provided equipment and supplies to 1,887 people (509 women and 358 youth), improved services, training, technical assistance and new job opportunities; (4) completed 3 diagnostic studies and 3 long-term development strategies (1 per fruit chain), and 13 municipal action plans covering the 5 targeted municipalities. This resulted in the first-ever comprehensive analysis of the conditions of these 3 fruit value chains in Cuba; (5) completed and published a gender-based analysis of the 3 fruit chains and integrated the findings into diagnostic studies of the chains. This includes the methodology used, provided useful tools for addressing gender gaps and informing decision-making in the sector; and (6) installed machinery in 1 refinement line, 2 micro-industries and 5 mini-industries, allowing for the overall refinement and processing of 3.65 tons of fruit per hour. These mini and micro industries and refinement line contributed to better food security by allowing fruits and vegetables produced locally to be processed and preserved.

• Proactive disclosure