Avery Davidson from the Farm Bureau discusses recent developments in agricultural relations between Louisiana and Cuba. He highlights a trip organized by Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry, Dr. Mike Strain, which included various agricultural leaders and legislators. The trip aimed to establish stronger trade relations, particularly in rice, a staple commodity for Cuba. Despite Cuba’s high rice consumption, their agricultural sector has significantly declined, with rice production dropping by 53% between 2017 and 2024. This decline has led Cuba to rely heavily on rice imports from Vietnam due to trade issues with the United States.
Davidson notes that while there were initial efforts to improve US-Cuba relations, these efforts stalled under the Trump administration, which reclassified Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism, limiting financial transactions. The Biden administration has not changed this status, resulting in continued stagnation.
Davidson contrasts his visits to Cuba in 2016 and the recent trip, observing a significant population decline from 11 million to 9.2 million due to outmigration. Many Cubans are leaving for countries like the United States, Brazil, and Belize. He also highlights the stark disparity between the living conditions of Cuban citizens and government officials.
During the trip, Commissioner Strain and Dr. Matt Lee signed a memorandum of understanding with Cuba’s Ministry of Agriculture to collaborate on rice research, focusing on management practices rather than proprietary genetics. This partnership aims to improve Cuban rice production.
Davidson also touches on the broader context of the US farm bill, noting that the extension of the 2018 farm bill expired on September 30th. Farmers are facing increased input costs and decreased commodity prices, leading to significant financial losses. This situation underscores the importance of legislative action to support the agricultural sector.