Recent remarks by Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz advocating for each municipality to achieve its own "food sovereignty" have sparked a wave of criticism on social media. Many citizens view this proposal as an attempt by the central government to shirk responsibility for the country's severe food crisis, shifting the burden to local authorities.
During a government visit to the province of Mayabeque, Marrero emphasized that "the most reliable foods we will have are those we are able to produce." According to Granma, he urged each municipality to develop its own agricultural strategy to attain the "long-desired municipal autonomy."
However, these statements have been met with skepticism and dissatisfaction among the population. On digital platforms, numerous Cubans have voiced their distrust of government policies related to food production. One social media user sarcastically asked, "In which municipality does Marrero live?" suggesting that the prime minister might be out of touch with the realities faced by ordinary citizens, while also implicitly critiquing the well-fed appearance of the robust regime leader.
Past Failures in "Food Sovereignty"
This is not the first instance where Cuban authorities have attempted to delegate responsibility for the food crisis. For years, the regime has championed the concept of "food sovereignty," yet the outcomes have been consistently disappointing. In 2020, the government began promoting this concept with promises to reduce import dependency and ensure the supply of basic foods.
Two years later, in July 2022, the Law on Food Sovereignty and Food and Nutritional Security was passed, aiming to guarantee the population's right to sufficient and healthy nutrition. However, the law's implementation has been ineffective, and Cubans have endured the worst food shortages in decades. Marrero himself had claimed in November 2022 that "Cuba is advancing in the food sovereignty plan," despite production data and market shortages indicating otherwise.
Admitting Failure and Shifting Blame
Despite official rhetoric, in December 2024, the Communist Party of Cuba officially acknowledged the failure in food production, admitting that "the results we achieve today do not meet the population's needs." Now, rather than taking responsibility, the regime seems to be looking for new strategies to shift the blame for the economic and agricultural disaster.
Marrero's suggestion that each municipality handle its own food production fits this pattern: the central government seeks to wash its hands of the issue, placing the responsibility on local administrations and agricultural producers. Citizens, however, have been quick to point out the contradictions in this discourse. "How can autonomy be achieved if the State continues to control commercialization and pricing?" questioned an internet user.
The Reality: Escalating Scarcity and Soaring Prices
While the government promotes the notion of "municipal autonomy," the country's reality paints a grim picture. At the end of 2022, one Cuban questioned on social media, "What food sovereignty are we talking about?" as authorities opted to sell bones to the population instead of meat.
"How can you go to another country to give a conference on food security and nutrition while giving leftovers to your people?" questioned a Cuban journalist and professor.
In January 2025, Cubans denounced the alarming thickness of the ration book, reflecting the progressive shortage of essential goods. Meanwhile, official figures indicate that national food production continues to plummet. In this context, the regime's strategy of offloading responsibility onto municipalities and local producers seems an attempt to divert attention from the failure of its economic and agricultural model.
The food crisis continues to deepen, and instead of finding structural solutions, the government opts for new slogans to try to maintain the official narrative.
Manuel Marrero: Between Rhetoric and Reality
In a Cuba removed from reality and convinced by their own propagandist rhetoric, Cuban leaders fail to confront a grim reality where an increasing number of citizens face food insecurity.
In December 2023, Cuban ruler Miguel Díaz-Canel returned from a Middle East tour boasting "positive results," notably highlighting the sensitivity shown towards investments in Cuba's food sovereignty.
"There was a lot of sensitivity in supporting investments in food sovereignty for Cuba," Díaz-Canel said from his imaginary oasis, offering his subjects the hope of Arab petrodollars to produce food on the island.
Months earlier, Díaz-Canel's executive head posed a devastating question during a meeting evaluating the agricultural sector's 2022 results. "Where is the food on the plate?" Marrero Cruz questioned after acknowledging that 63 measures and a Food Sovereignty Law had not solved the island's shortages. "It's many measures, many laws, and all, but where is the food on the plate?" insisted the leader.
Nearly two years after that question, food scarcity remains one of the main issues plaguing Cubans, while the regime, far from acknowledging its inadequacy, continues to shift the responsibility to municipalities.
Marrero Cruz's discourse on "municipal autonomy" has been met with ridicule and criticism because it does not address the reality faced by Cubans. For many, the question that echoes with irony continues to be: "In which municipality does Marrero live?"
Cuban Food Production Challenges and Government Strategies
What is the concept of "municipal autonomy" in food production?
"Municipal autonomy" refers to the idea that each Cuban municipality should independently manage and develop its agricultural strategies to achieve self-sufficiency in food production.
Why are Cubans skeptical about the government's food sovereignty policies?
Cubans are skeptical because previous attempts at achieving food sovereignty have failed, with persistent food shortages and ineffective implementation of related laws.
What are the main criticisms of the Cuban government's approach to the food crisis?
Critics argue that the government is trying to shift responsibility to local municipalities and producers, without addressing the systemic issues at the national level that contribute to the food crisis.