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🇨🇺 Cuba /Culture & Society

Urban Eden: Cuban Couple Cultivates National Farming Model on 400 Square Meters

From Granma · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • A Cuban couple transformed a 400-square-meter urban plot into a national model for urban and suburban agriculture.
  • The project, La Rosita, integrates nearly 19 agricultural subprograms, including aquaculture and animal husbandry, alongside a self-developed microbial inoculant called Germevit.
  • Led by a former teacher and a biochemist, the initiative demonstrates how food sovereignty can be achieved within city limits through a blend of science, tradition, and social commitment.

In Nuevo Manzanillo, Granma, the La Rosita Local Development Project has become a national benchmark for urban and suburban agriculture, proving that food sovereignty can flourish in the heart of a city.

María Rosa León Reyes, 66, a teacher by training and farmer by origin, and her husband Josué Guilarte González, 67, a biochemist, have meticulously transformed their 400-square-meter plot into a thriving ecosystem. Their project integrates approximately 19 agricultural subprograms, showcasing a holistic approach that includes tilapia aquaculture, rabbit and guinea pig breeding, chickens, peacocks, pheasants, and pigs, alongside protected crops and a small-scale agroecological industry.

I inherited a farm from my parents, which is my greatest treasure. I became a teacher, but I have always been passionate about caring for plants and animals; they give me relief and ensure food for my family, friends, or neighbors. This patio is a miniature version of that farm in the city center.

— María Rosa León ReyesExplaining her lifelong passion for farming and how it translates to the urban project.

"I inherited a farm from my parents, which is my greatest treasure. I became a teacher, but I have always been passionate about caring for plants and animals; they give me relief and ensure food for my family, friends, or neighbors. This patio is a miniature version of that farm in the city center," explained María Rosa, highlighting her deep connection to farming.

The innovation extends to their proprietary microbial inoculant, Germevit, registered in 2022. Developed from lactic acid bacteria found in rice bran yogurt and earthworm humus, Germevit has revitalized not only the plants within La Rosita but also the iconic jagüey tree at the La Demajagua museum park and crocodiles at a local zoo. Josué noted that their Germevit-bio, a biostimulant, has received national and international recognition for improving soil conditions.

We have developed two fundamental products: Germevit-bio. A foliar biostimulant that improves the physical, chemical, and microbiological conditions of soils, with national and international recognition. Germevit-Aditivo is a probiotic that ensures the balance of microbiota and the health of...

— Josué Guilarte GonzálezDetailing the scientific scope and recognition of their Germevit creations.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Granma in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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