Cooperative Rural Development Project in the Oriental Region

The project covers 18 municipalities in 4 provinces in Cuba's Oriental region. It will directly benefit over 13,000 farming families (52,000 people), organized into 157 cooperatives. Young people will account for at least 15 per cent of direct beneficiaries; women, 10 per cent.

The project's objectives are to increase strategic crop production and productivity, mainly for maize and beans – two essential components of the Cuban diet – and to improve living conditions for the targeted households. The project comprises the following components:

• Strengthening smallholder cooperative organizations: the project will increase capacity for sustainable production, business management and institutional strengthening of cooperatives, as well as improve their physical assets. This will involve the use of innovative technologies and knowledge dissemination activities.
• Strengthening agricultural service providers: service supply to cooperatives and cooperative members, provided by governmental and non-governmental agricultural service providers, will be enhanced in order to respond to increased demand.
• Project organization and management: project implementation and financial and organizational efficiency will be a challenge, which will require a significant investment in capacity-building and training.

Source: IFAD