by Yosley Carrero

MATANZAS, Cuba, April 24 (Xinhua) -- Located some 190 km from the Cuban capital of Havana is the municipality of Marti in the western province of Matanzas, where a sustainable development program is underway.

The project, involving over 20,000 inhabitants, has been joined by the Ciro Redondo agricultural cooperative dedicated to growing grains and vegetables as well as producing food for livestock on 2,282 hectares of land.

Among the farms in Marti excels Tres Hermanos, widely known for its agroecological practices as well as its medicinal plants and effective microorganisms.

Jorge Luis Marquez, a farm worker, told Xinhua that agroecology brings benefits to human health and helps to restore soil fertility.

"In this place, nothing is wasted but repurposed," Marquez said, "everything we do is intrinsically related to the circular economy guidelines."

"Still, we need to make better use of natural resources," he said.

This is one of the nine farms in the climate change adaptation program implemented on the island nation by the Cuban Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment, along with the United Nations Development Program.

Also in Marti, local authorities have been promoting the use of renewable sources of energy with the setting up of two biodigesters, which will help cut carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere.

Nationwide, there are some 5,000 small-scale biodigesters, local media reported.

Renewable energy sources account for 5 percent of Cuba's energy production, according to official statistics.

Sobeida Reyes, development director in the Marti municipal government and coordinator of the project, said that clean energy will benefit the public transportation network at the local level.

"This is something that will lead to more environmental protection as well as to the betterment of irrigation systems for different crops," she said. "I have no doubt it will result in the improvement of living standards of our population." Enditem

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