The two direct delegates from the province of Las Tunas to the XIII Congress of the National Association of Small Farmers (ANAP in Spanish) were selected by the assemblies of their production units, before which they ratified their commitment to represent them in the different sessions of the event.
Las Tunas, Cuba.- One of these recognitions went to Onelio Laffita Leyva, from the René Guzmán agricultural production cooperative (CPA), in the northern municipality of Jesús Menéndez. The entity is dedicated to sugar cane production development, although it also stands out for its livestock module and the sowing of various crops.
The other winner was Omelio Castellanos Carmona, associate of Sabino Pupo credit and services cooperative (CCS), in "Amancio." This group of farmers has the collection of milk and beef as its main activity, but it also engages in other agricultural activities.
 Omelio Castellanos Carmona |  Onelio Laffita Leyva |
Both serve as presidents of the boards of directors and have accumulated many years of experience in this role, from which they promote productive indicators, attention to members, and the economic and social processes developed in the rural communities of San Agustín and Los Kilómetros, respectively.
The other 20 representatives of the Las Tunas peasantry will be elected by direct vote at the Provincial Assembly, scheduled for March 21 and 22, which responds to the central slogan “Strengthened, united and productive”. The delegation also includes three guests.
In the eight municipal meetings, the attendees discussed multiple issues ranging from the constant non-payment to producers for the sale of milk to the vigilance patrols in the settlements to prevent criminal acts, especially theft and/or slaughter of large livestock.
They also evaluated the management of collective use areas, the link between the companies and the cooperatives, the effects of bankarization in the sector, and the use of biological means and animal traction to alleviate the lack of fertilizers and fuel.
The 13th ANAP Congress will be held in Havana on May 15, 16, and 17 this year.
