Japan and Cuba Sign Agriculture Technology Agreement

The Ministry of Agriculture of Cuba (MINAGRI) and the Sojitz Corporation of Japan have signed an agreement in the new agricultural technology sector, an agreement which will increase rice yields and contribute to food self-sufficiency.

Present at the signing ceremony were Cuban Ambassador, His Excellency Carlos Miguel Pereira, embassy staff, executives from the Japan International Cooperation System (JICS) Cooperation Agency, and YANMAR corporation.

The JICS agency provides support for the purchase of equipment, the temporary staff to assist and provide expertise in the smooth implementation of operations.

Yanmar Corporation is the agriculture equipment manufacturer and supplier to be used in the project.

The Sojitz Corporation, headquartered in Japan, assists companies in development across the globe.

The agreement was signed by Frank Castañeda, president of the Agricultural Business Group (GAG), a sub-entity of the Ministry of Cuban Agriculture, and Tatsuyuki Shimazu, deputy general director of Projects and Industrial Machinery at the Sojitz Corporation.

The signed contract will have a positive impact on rice production, decrease water consumption, reduce pest and disease damage, and will generally boost the average yield of rice production to more than six tons per hectare.

The Cuban Ambassador estimates the collaboration will strengthen bilateral economic cooperation in agriculture, and the use of the tractors and other high-quality equipment will improve agricultural productivity.

Enhancing food productivity and cooperation in agriculture is shared as a priority between Japan and Cuba during the visit of Premier Abe to Cuba in September of 2016.

The agriculture technology agreement was signed at the conclusion of the visit by the Cuban Ministry of Agriculture to Japan.