Local Chickpeas to Be Grown In Cuba Thanks to TİKA

Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) organized the trial planting of 10 varieties of chickpeas patented by Turkey in Sancti Spiritus, Cuba in cooperation with the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey in Havana and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of the Republic of Turkey.

During her visit to TİKA in 2018, Cuba’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment Ileana Núñez Mordoche had stated that they wished to benefit from Turkey’s experience in chickpea cultivation.

Developed as a result of the negotiations with the General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policy (GDAR) upon the request of Cuban authorities and patented by Turkey, the seeds of 10 varieties of chickpea were sent to Cuba and planted in Sancti Spiritus, Cuba with the participation of the experts of TİKA, the GDAR, and Cuba’s Ministry of Agriculture.

The trial planting took place on a state-controlled cooperative land of 2.5 hectares in central Cuba. In addition to the seeds of 10 different varieties provided by Turkey, the seeds of 1 Cuban and 2 Mexican varieties were planted, in order to examine and compare the growth.

As part of the project, the Republic of Turkey’s Ambassador to Havana Berris Ekinci and TİKA’s delegation were welcomed by Cuba’s First Deputy Minister of Agriculture Ydael Perez Brito. Deputy Minister Brito expressed his gratitude to Turkey for its assistance and stated that they wished this collaboration to continue.

Cuba’s Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment Rodrigo Malmierca Diaz sent a letter of appreciation to TİKA for our country’s assistance.

The project, which consists of three stages, namely planting, harvesting, and reporting, is expected to be completed in 2020.