A Cuban named Hugo Mutis shared a photo on Facebook last Friday, capturing five small and deteriorated sweet potatoes he purchased for 200 Cuban pesos (CUP). His post included a question that echoes the frustration of millions: "What prosperous and sustainable socialism are these lunatics talking about?"
The image, taken with a phone in a domestic setting, displays the tubers on a tiled floor. Mutis described them as "even ugly" and questioned why no one in authority is curbing these price abuses.
"Not everything is about the blockade and extraterritorial measures, because the biggest blockade, and the one that harms us the most, is internal and the misguided policies that have borne no fruit," Mutis wrote, directly blaming the Cuban state as the main culprit.
Breakdown of State Distribution System
Mutis also highlighted the collapse of the state distribution system: stores have not distributed rice or other basic goods for months. "Just a few peas, a pound of sugar, sometimes two per person, and some salt if you're lucky," he described.
Residing in Tuinucú, Sancti Spíritus, Mutis claims that in Cuba, no one is in control anymore, and everything has turned into a survival of the fittest.
"What prosperous and sustainable socialism are these lunatics talking about? When inequality grows every day, and while the privileged become richer, the average Cuban is left struggling more than ever," he asserted.
Nationwide Food Crisis Reflected Online
His post sparked hundreds of comments reflecting a widespread food crisis across the nation.
Reported sweet potato prices from various provinces show alarming disparities: in Havana, the price per pound ranges from 90-120 CUP; in Holguín, it reaches 100 CUP per pound; in Santiago de Cuba, two sweet potatoes cost 300 CUP; in Cienfuegos, a single one costs 300 CUP; and on the Isla de la Juventud, five are sold for 350 CUP.
"I went to the market, and they are already 120 pesos per pound. Who would have imagined this for sweet potatoes back in the day? It's abusive, no matter where it comes from," wrote internet user Gladis Ramírez García.
Other users pointed to the state as being absent. "We won't discuss agricultural products, but what explanation is there for almost nothing being delivered to the stores in 2026? But well, we have to endure, say those with everything guaranteed," remarked Regla Johnson.
Gilmer Rodríguez del Pozo summarized the official response with irony: "Everything turns into: decrees, 'food sovereignty,' implementation, creative resistance. None of this is edible."
Challenges in Agricultural Production
A farmer named Arnaldo Lopez Gómez explained that this year he only produces for personal consumption: "Without fuel or agricultural machinery, production is impossible." Another affected individual described the chain of intermediaries: the farmer sells at 15 CUP per pound, but the final reseller charges 90 CUP.
Historically among Cuba's cheapest staples, sweet potatoes cost less than 10 pesos per pound in 2020. Currently, prices fluctuate between 80 and 120 CUP, with extreme cases like Mutis's, who paid 200 CUP for just five.
This price hike occurs as the minimum wage in Cuba remains at 2,100 CUP per month, equivalent to about four dollars on the informal exchange market, and the average salary is around 6,830 CUP.
Even Vice President Salvador Valdés Mesa acknowledged last Friday that inflation can only be tackled by supplying the market, but admitted that "we cannot achieve that in the short term."
Rita Hernández Soto concluded the online debate with a phrase summarizing the public's mood: "They've turned the people against each other, and hunger reigns supreme."
Understanding the Economic Crisis in Cuba
What is causing the high prices of sweet potatoes in Cuba?
The high prices are attributed to a combination of internal economic mismanagement, a collapsed distribution system, and a lack of agricultural resources, such as fuel and machinery.
How are Cubans responding to the current food crisis?
Cubans are expressing their frustration on social media, highlighting the growing inequality and criticizing the government's lack of effective solutions.
What is the current minimum wage in Cuba?
The current minimum wage in Cuba is 2,100 CUP per month, which is roughly equivalent to four dollars on the informal exchange market.