Before the arrival of socialism in 1959, Cuba was the world’s top producer of sugar. Today, the communist dictatorship that has ruled the island for 65 consecutive years must import sugar to meet domestic needs. The sugar harvest this year has been a complete disaster, with numbers so low you would have to go back to the year 1900 to find similar production.
Via U.S. News and World Report:
The Cuban sugar harvest is winding down at the lowest tonnage since 1900, forcing the government to import and putting more pressure on its domestic rum, soft drink and pharmaceutical industries, according to official reports, two economists and a rum industry source.
President Miguel Diaz-Canel said at the end of April that the state-run industry had produced 71% of the 412,000 metric tons planned, or just shy of 300,000 metric tons, and would mill into May.
Cuba produced 350,000 metric tons in the last harvest and while some sugar mills remain open, yields drop sharply in May as hot, humid weather sets in, accompanied by summer rains.
“This means we will have to import and, of course, less sugar means there is less syrup and alcohol for various industries and, of course, rum,” said Cuban economist Omar Everleny.
To paraphrase the old adage, put communists in charge of the world’s top producer of sugar and in a few years you’ll run out of sugar. This is socialism in action.
Oh, this is all due to the “blockade” and/or climate change. Nothing to do with the “revolution.” Move along.