A Rest for El Descanso
On the eastern edge of Cuba, in the town of El Descanso, Oxfam partner The Cuban Association of Animal Husbandry (ACPA) is helping more than 65 farmers and their families improve their lives by increasing their food production and developing safe and reliable sources of potable drinking water.
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| A farmer inspects his crops in Pinar Del Rio, Cuba, one of the regions in which Oxfam partner The Cuban Association of Animal Husbandry (ACPA) is helping farmers to increase their crop production. By: Juan Caballero/Oxfam |
El Descanso, in the province of Guantanamo, translates into "The Resting Place," an ironic name for a community in which the majority of residents-mostly small agricultural producers-have toiled exhaustively for generations.
Decades ago, locals baptized the community with this name because it served as a resting place for hunters in route from the capital of Guantanamo, about 40 kilometers away. Stopping in El Descanso for the night meant a much needed rest before climbing the surrounding mountains in search of game. Today, these same mountains host about 1,000 residents, who with few exceptions depend on agriculture to feed their families.
Until recently, most of the residents of the village lacked a reliable water supply. Very few farmers possessed efficient irrigation systems, creating challenges to produce enough crops to meet local demands. In addition to a lack of reliable food and water, most families in the village lacked solid housing. A typical house in El Descanso consisted of a weak wooden structure, supported over a dirt floor covered with palm thatch.
ACPA is represented in all provinces of Cuba. In Guatanamo, one of the poorest provinces in Cuba, the organization works with more than 1,000 producers. Most famous for the US naval base, approximately 500,000 people reside in the eastern province. About 40 percent live in the capital city and another 40 percent live in rural communities where the primary economic activities are sugar cane, coffee, and dairy production.
With Oxfam's support, ACPA is working with El Descanso to increase their food production and implement a unique gravity flow irrigation and water system. Community members participate in the planning and implementation of these programs, ensuring that they are learning the skills necessary to provide for their community's needs in the long-term.
ACPA rebuilt 30 homes, and installed a gravity-flow irrigation system to increase crop production. The irrigation systems have bolstered community health, and ensured a cheap and efficient source of water for agricultural production. Sixty-five families now have a reliable source of drinking water, and are undertaking extensive housing repairs. ACPA is providing training courses on the maintenance of the water systems they have introduced, as well as on the management of the irrigation systems.
As part of this project, ACPA negotiated successfully with local government officials to improve the only road through their community. Before the new road was put in, almost nobody could leave during heavy rains. In the case of medical emergencies, people were carried out of the village by oxen because ambulances could not make the trip. Bringing in supplies to rebuild homes and implement the irrigation system was a severe challenge to the condition of the only road.
In addition to having tremendous impact on the local economy and community health, these types of programs are easing the burden on women in El Descanso. Potable water systems have significantly eased the burden for rural women who often assume the task of hauling water for drinking, cooking, cleaning and washing, as well as sustaining vegetable fields and increasing the earning potential of local women.