In 1959, socialism encountered a productive agricultural sector; today, it hands back an unproductive one to the Cuban people. It is often said that a socialist placed in the Sahara would cause a sand shortage; similarly, Castroism managed to turn fish into a luxury item on an island, cause salt to vanish from markets, and halt agricultural production on fertile land.

Under a free-market system — despite its flaws — Cuba boasted a flourishing, agriculture-driven economy. While sugar production was the dominant activity, the country also cultivated tobacco, coffee, rice, corn, and other crops.

Under the centralized socialist system, the sugar industry was stripped of its principal owners and ultimately collapsed. Today, productivity is in decline. An hour of labor in Cuba yields less output than in Haiti, according to a study by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC). Currently, the country imports the majority of its food.

The regime’s refusal to allow private farmers to import machinery forces them to plow the land using their own bodies. Available tractors are not a viable option due to a lack of fuel and spare parts. Even the traditional team of oxen is disappearing.

Today, oxen are used by the Revolutionary Armed Forces to transport anti-aircraft artillery in anticipation of a hypothetical American military action — a scene reminiscent of the pre-mechanized infantry era.

A ‘Disastrous’ Performance

Speaking on condition of anonymity for this report, a farmer from western Cuba — whom we will call Víctor — asserts that Cuban agriculture is facing one of the deepest crises in recent history, “with serious implications for food security and the well-being of the population.”

He notes that the dire situation facing Cuban farmers is exacerbated by government management, incompetent planning, and the abandonment of effective policies. The context of economic crisis in Cuba includes a prolonged recession, significant drops in gross domestic product (GDP) in recent years, widespread shortages of basic goods, high inflation, and frequent power outages.

Víctor believes the agricultural sector is critical to the Cuban economy and food security. “But over the last two years, its performance has been disastrous.” By mid-2024, most agricultural and livestock production had fallen short of targets due to shortages of fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides, fuel, and animal feed. The situation was also critical in 2023, with a decline in the production of staples such as eggs, meat, and milk.

“Cuba imports between 70% and 80% of the food it consumes; this is a significant financial burden at a time when foreign currency is scarce,” he explained. “Essential products like rice, beans, chicken, and powdered milk are almost entirely imported.”

Víctor believes two factors contribute to the agricultural crisis. “Hyper-centralized decision-making and stifling bureaucracy prevent farmers from increasing production.”

The regime has recently launched reforms that would, in theory, give a greater role to the private and cooperative sectors; however, in Víctor’s view, “progress has been slow, and they have failed to significantly transform the sector.”

Compounding this dire scenario is the issue of theft in the Cuban countryside, particularly involving livestock. “It is a serious and growing problem that directly affects farmers and contributes to the production crisis — specifically the theft and illegal slaughter of large livestock (cattle, oxen, horses),” says Víctor. Pigs, sheep, crops, machinery, fuel, and even household goods from rural homes are also stolen. “The thefts occur at night or even during the day (in broad daylight, in some cases). The rustlers slaughter the animal on the spot or haul it away, selling the meat on the black market. Many farmers report repeated losses just days apart.”

The main outcome Víctor has observed in his community is a sense of fed-up frustration and an exodus. “Some farmers sell off all their livestock to avoid further losses, leaving entire farms unproductive. There are instances of violence, armed threats, and even physical attacks.”

Many thefts go unsolved, the interviewee noted. “The police arrive late or fail to recover anything. The criminals operate in organized gangs with logistical planning.” Some farmers have had to “take justice into their own hands,” planning and carrying out ambushes and pursuits against the wrongdoers.

The state monopoly on meat sales — and a decades-long ban on independent slaughtering — fueled a parallel market alongside the centralized state system; this parallel market has become the population’s primary source of protein.

Another factor points to the collapse: a lack of investment and decapitalization. Investment trends in recent years have failed to stimulate agriculture, which has received less than 3% of total investment. Shortages of inputs — such as fertilizers, pesticides, and machinery — along with fuel scarcity and aging infrastructure, can now be described as chronic.

The Acopio Monopoly

The state purchasing and distribution system established by the Revolution — popularly known as Acopio — compels all producers to sell to the State. Once the State has gathered the produce, it redistributes it based on its own needs and priorities.

This stranglehold on the free agricultural market has been, according to Víctor, “a constant source of problems.” Acopio owes millions to farmers, a situation that discourages production.

Another farmer I spoke with for this article assured me that it is possible to bring in a good harvest, only to have a third of it rot in Acopio warehouses because there is no transport to distribute the fruit, vegetables, or root crops to state-authorized market stalls in cities and towns.

Although the State has made tentative moves to reform this inefficient system — such as the approval of Decree 143 in 2025 — “the effectiveness of these measures remains to be seen.”

In Víctor’s view, the policies implemented have failed to reverse the negative trend. “A lack of incentives for producers, combined with unfair prices and the volatility of the national currency, discourages investment and effort in the agricultural sector.”

Low agricultural output and a reliance on imports have been accompanied by chronic food shortages and high market prices. The basic basket of goods and services is beyond the reach of many households. “The average worker’s salary is approximately 5,750 Cuban pesos (about $10 at current exchange rates), whereas the cost of living is significantly higher,” Víctor noted.

The situation has led to an alarming rise in extreme poverty. The Cuban Observatory for Human Rights estimates that seven out of 10 Cubans have stopped eating breakfast, lunch, or dinner due to a lack of money or food shortages.

Cubans are increasingly dependent on remittances sent by family and friends living abroad, especially in the United States.

Superficial reforms imposed by totalitarianism are not enough; what is needed is a change of system that views the honest prosperity of individuals not as a problem, but as a virtue to be emulated.