Amid a widespread food scarcity affecting the Cuban populace and perpetually empty state-run markets, the Fernando Echenique Agroindustrial Grain Company, known as Granmax, based in Granma province, is gearing up for the debut of Bayamec.cu, a new online store dedicated to selling cereals and grains.
The training sessions for staff commenced on Wednesday, focusing on equipping employees with the necessary skills to operate the platform and manage customer interactions efficiently. The aim is to ensure a smooth online shopping experience from day one, as reported by Radio Bayamo.
This move starkly contrasts with the severe food crisis gripping the island.
According to a survey by the Food Monitor Program released in May, nearly 97% of Cubans lack sufficient access to food, with around 34% of households having at least one person who went to bed hungry in the 30 days preceding the survey.
In June, Alberto López Díaz, the minister of the Food Industry, acknowledged that essential goods like oil, chicken, and yogurt had not been distributed via the rationed basket all year.
Cuba's annual rice production is merely 111,000 tons, while demand reaches 600,000 tons, forcing the country to import between 70% and 80% of its food at an annual cost of about $2 billion.
Granmax, located in Bayamo, stands as the leading rice producer in Cuba, supplying approximately 30% of the nation's rice consumption.
In November 2022, Granmax received approval to engage in foreign trade, becoming the first exporter and importer in the eastern province. The company collaborated in 2026 with Vietnam's TBAgri to deliver over 470 tons of rice grown in Yara.
The launch of Bayamec.cu aligns with Decree 35 of 2021, which mandates the Ministry of Agriculture to explore e-commerce options for agricultural products, including online sales with delivery services.
However, this digital initiative arrives at a time when the state fails to stock physical market outlets.
Last Friday, the leader Miguel Díaz-Canel visited the Cubanacán Defense Zone in Havana's Playa municipality, urging the conversion of available land into gardens to mitigate shortages.
Days earlier, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz and Vice President Salvador Valdés Mesa toured the Santiago de las Vegas Defense Zone in Boyeros, demanding an increase in local production.
Despite these calls, there is no significant evidence of recovery in the island's agricultural output.
Rice production in Cuba has plummeted to 30% of the 2018 levels, with yields dropping from four tons per hectare to just 1.7. This is a trend that no virtual store can reverse on its own.
Understanding Cuba's Agricultural Crisis
Why is Cuba facing a food shortage?
Cuba faces a food shortage due to a combination of insufficient domestic production, reliance on imports covering 70% to 80% of its food needs, and economic mismanagement under the socialist regime.
What is Granmax's role in Cuba's rice production?
Granmax is Cuba's largest rice producer, contributing around 30% of the country's rice consumption. It is also involved in international trade and collaborative projects to boost rice production.