In a bold move, a farmer from Yara, located in Cuba's Granma province, has voiced his frustration following a staggering fine of 60,000 pesos. This penalty, he claims, highlights the numerous obstacles faced by those striving to produce food on the island.
Andrés Manuel Sosa Ramírez took to social media to express his outrage after being fined by the National Livestock Control Center (CENCOP). The penalty was imposed due to an alleged "age discrepancy" among animals that did not meet the criteria set by authorities.
"They fined me 60,000 pesos over an age difference," the farmer declared. He argued that this amount is disproportionate compared to the livestock's actual market value. "A 500-kilogram bull is paid at the price of a skinny chicken. At most, 15,000 pesos, and with deductions, it's even less," he explained.
Economic Disparities and Market Challenges
The disparity becomes more glaring when considering the market prices of food. "When an ounce of ground meat costs fifteen pesos at neighborhood stalls, what does the bull provide, and where does that money go?" he questioned, hinting at the lack of direct benefits for producers.
Sosa Ramírez didn't just criticize the fine but also took a stand against the system regulating livestock activities in Cuba. He believes that CENCOP acts more as a control mechanism than as an institution meant to support farmers. "It's the thermometer that measures our submission as cattle raisers," he lamented.
Impact on Agricultural Production
The farmer emphasized that such measures discourage production and directly impact farmers' ability to sustain their livelihoods. "It demoralizes us, it discredits us so that we don't raise cattle," he stated.
In his message, he also appealed to the social role of farmers amid the country's food crisis. "We seek the common good, for the people to have, for the people to be fed," he expressed passionately.
His testimony adds to the growing complaints from Cuban producers who face strict regulations, low procurement prices, and economic penalties, all while food shortages continue to severely affect the population.
Systemic Issues and Farmer Resistance
"This isn't how you produce," encapsulates the sentiment of many in the Cuban countryside, where working the land or raising livestock increasingly feels like an act of resistance rather than a sustainable activity.
In March 2026, the Cuban government set a maximum price of 75 pesos per kilogram for first-category bulls through the Council of Ministers' Agreement 9845. For a 500 kg animal, this would mean a gross sum of 37,500 pesos. However, in practical terms, producers report payments not exceeding 20,000 pesos before deductions.
This situation is not unique. In Las Tunas, 147 fines were issued to cattle farmers in just three months — from January to March 2024 — for irregularities in livestock records. During the same period, nearly 2,000 cattle thefts and the illegal slaughter of over 3,000 animals were recorded.
In April 2025, farmers from Las Tunas reported constant thefts, unpaid milk deliveries, and excessive fines despite their animals' malnutrition. That same month, a 71-year-old man decided to sell his cattle out of fear of theft and the stress of unmet milk quotas.
Decree Law 70/2022 enforces fines of up to 20,000 pesos for failing to update livestock records, a legal framework that producers view as a control tool rather than a regulatory measure. The farmer summed it up succinctly: "We have parental authority and civil rights, and they trample on them."
Understanding Cuba's Agricultural Challenges
What are the main obstacles faced by Cuban farmers?
Cuban farmers face numerous challenges including stringent regulations, low procurement prices, economic penalties, and a lack of direct benefits from their production efforts.
How does the current pricing system affect livestock farmers in Cuba?
The pricing system, as mandated by the government, caps the maximum price per kilogram of livestock, often resulting in farmers receiving payments that are significantly lower than market value, thereby discouraging production.
What impact do these regulations have on food production in Cuba?
Strict regulations and penalties disincentivize farmers, reducing their ability to produce and sustain agricultural activities, ultimately contributing to the ongoing food shortages in the country.