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U.S. Blockade Hampers Cuban Agricultural Development

Havana, Oct 31. -The U.S. economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed on Cuba for nearly 50 years restricts prospects for the development of agriculture on the island.If there were no such restrictions, joint ventures could be created to develop the production of beans, soy, beef and pork, among other foodstuffs.

Also, important logistics activities would be encouraged for the collection of products, post-harvest treatment, and distribution, thus allowing the replacement of imports currently made from the United States itself.

It would also contribute to the revival of the food sector and generate new jobs.

All this is contained in a report on Resolution 65/6 of the UN General Assembly on the need to end the U.S. blockade of Cuba, recently presented in that body.

Despite strong and ever increasing demands by the international community for a change in the U.S. government's policy towards Cuba, U.S. President Barack Obama maintains it intact, the resolution recalls.

The direct economic damage caused to the Cuban people up to December 2010 surpasses 104 billion USD, according to conservative figures.

If the devaluation of the dollar to the gold on the international market were taken into consideration, the Cuban losses would far exceed 975 billion USD, it was revealed. (Prensa Latina)