Cuba Rice Supplies Worsening

The worst days of Cuban hunger after the Soviet Union collapsed might be behind them. But in spite of 20 years to adjust to their own form of "Peak Oil" the communists in Cuba still can't grow enough food for their people.

"We are demanding discipline and order in purchases," state-run Radio Rebelde said during its Friday newscast. "Don't allow, under any circumstances, people to hoard rice so they can later sell it at a higher price." The communist government subsidizes rice and sells it in government farmer's markets for 3.50 pesos per pound, about $0.17. But rice has become so scarce in recent weeks that "certain unscrupulous people are hoarding," reported the station, which broadcasts across Cuba and is among the most listened to nationwide.

Cuba is a living museum for communism. Cuba exists to remind us in real time that communism fails as an economic system. We should be grateful to the Cubans for playing the role of economic educators with their entire lives. Given that most people know squat about history the existence of a present day reminder serves a useful function.

Cuba's agricultural failures create business for US farmers.

Furthermore, food is not part of the U.S. embargo. For the past several years Cuba has been purchasing food and agricultural products from U.S. producers. The United States has become the largest exporter of food and agricultural products to Cuba.

So Hugo Chavez of Venezuela helps prop up the Castros and then they are able to buy from US farmers. Any country that provides financial aid or oil to Cuba is helping US farmers. Think about it.

After the Soviet Union collapsed and Cuba lost out on USSR oil shipments Cuba went thru its "Special Period" where the economy contracted and food became very scarce. The government's and populace's responses to that period included a return to organic farming and lots of gardening in empty plots even in cities. Basically, Cuba did what the relocalization and transition town movement hopes to do. I think it amounts to reversing the economies of scale and that we can deal with Peak Oil without giving up most of our economies of scale.