Visits to the state-owned Sebioca MSME, the flag-bearing of the contingent of FEEM and FEU students who will take part in the national prevention exercise, and the exchange with workers of the Ciego Norte photovoltaic solar park and with the inhabitants of the 9 de Abril community, were part of the agenda of the First Secretary of the Party Central Committee and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, during his visit to Ciego de Avila.
In the biofactory next to the Máximo Gómez Báez University of  Ciego de Ávila, which since January of this year has become the medium-sized state enterprise Sebioca, the Head of State was interested in the progress of that organization, with a new form of economic management and encouraging results in the path to provide high quality agamic, botanical and biotechnological seeds, among other services of impact that contribute to the take-off of agriculture.
The introduction of high-yield clones, such as FHIA 04 -a variety of banana that the province did not have-, the implementation of timely strategies and the links with the Plant Biotechnology Institute of the Central University “Marta Abreu” of Las Villas, and with the Plant Biotechnology Research Institute of the Central University “Marta Abreu” of Las Villas, and with the Tropical Roots Research Institute (Inivit), have been decisive for the development of this center, very different from the one of a few years ago, when it produced one million vitroplants, far from the four million conceived in the original design.

Among the achievements of this year is the sale of more than 250,000 vitroplants to entities such as La Empresa Agropecuaria La Cuba, a task in line with the call to apply science and innovation in the cultivation of the land, and which contributes directly to the increase in food production.
The country’s leadership then witnessed the flag-bearing of the Pedro Martínez Brito contingent, composed of 150 feem and feu students who will visit establishments, entities and MSMEs to evaluate how the measures approved by the Revolutionary Government are being implemented: the use of social networks, the EnZona platform, payments by Transfermóvil, control over tax evasion…, activities that they will share with popular inspectors, teachers and government and Party officials in the head municipality of the province.
Accompanied by the Secretary of Organization of the Central Committee of the Party, Roberto Morales Ojeda; the first secretary of the Provincial Committee of the Party in Ciego de Avila, Julio Gómez Casanova; the governor of the territory, Alfre Menéndez Pérez, and the authorities of the municipality, Díaz-Canel visited the photovoltaic park under construction in Ciego Norte, with a capacity to generate 21.7 megawatts.
He learned that, with the completion of the site in February next year, plus the synchronization of others in the execution phase, next summer the province will be able to be self-sufficient in electricity generated with photovoltaic energy at midday peak hours.
The President shared with neighbors of the 9 de Abril community, which has undergone a major construction renovation and a thorough work in the social area, including care for vulnerable people.
In this regard, he praised the initiative of several companies of the territory to move towards these communities and sell food at differentiated prices.
“So far this year, only in the municipality of Ciego de Avila, these entities made available to the popular councils more than 534 food rations, controlled and supervised by the Ciego de Avila Business Group of Commerce,” Gómez Casanova informed him.
Roberto Morales Ojeda described as useful and successful the work of Lianet Pazo Cedeño, political coordinator of the Indalecio Montejo popular council, and suggested strengthening the work with the youth mass of that place and of the municipality, “for what it represents in the continuity of the Revolution.”
Díaz-Canel pointed out that in difficult times, the creative resistance of the people comes to light, and the people of Avila show it with daily actions: the increase in sowing levels, the rescue of the agricultural company La Cuba, the sowing of food in other entities, the fact that the province ends the year with a surplus, the treatment of vulnerable people and community work.
“We are going to move forward and overcome all obstacles, he said, including the blockade, without letting ourselves be humiliated, to achieve the prosperity that the people deserve.”
IF SOME HAVE TRIUMPHED, THE OTHERS CAN DO IT TOO
In the morning, the Head of State had arrived at the Victoria de Girón neighborhood of the Lenin-Albaisa popular council in the head municipality of Camagüey province, a place where changes undertaken in recent times have had as priorities the spirituality of the population, the functioning of social policies, and the efficiency of basic services.
“In the worst times -the dignitary told the villagers- we are doing more community work than in other times.” And he asked his interlocutors if they have participated in the community project, if they “have been able to propose things and give priorities.”
He exchanged with them about how in the distribution “they have incorporated people who are not linked to study and work; they have improved social institutions; the community has another level of participation in the processes.” And as a starting point for this idea, he shared more than one question: “If this community does it, why don’t we do it in others? What is so special about this community if it is also going through the restrictions and implications of the blockade?”
The next place visited in the community was a branch of the Family Care System (SAF). Then it was the turn of a fish market, a bodega and, finally, a washing center that enjoys a very good reputation and supports vulnerable people.
The country’s management also went to the production plant that belongs to the basic business unit (UEB) Estrella Roja – whose destinations are social consumption and sale to the population – and that was the opportunity to take a look inside a process that generates sausages, minced meat, fresh fish, hamburgers, among other offers.
The tour concluded with a visit to the Villa Luisa farm, with 12.4 hectares of fruit trees and short-cycle intercropping, which is one of the 115 farms that are part of the province’s Green Belt.
“HERE WE STAND, FIGHTING BACK”
The challenges recently imposed by nature to life on the Island and the difficulties with the National Electric System were assumed by the people with coherence. This is how the Head of State assessed during the concluding meeting of the day this Thursday, which took place at the School of the Communist Party of Camagüey, Cándido González.
The results of the recovery are palpable, emphasized Díaz-Canel, who said that this has to do with the legacy of the Revolution, with what it means as a formation; and it has to do with the heroism of the people.
“Here we are on our feet, fighting,” said the president, who shared his conviction that moments like the ones Cuba is going through today are surmountable. And then he reflected on the hostile context, now accentuated with the result of the elections in the United States, before which there are some who are announcing the end of the Revolution.
Referring to how the world condemns the imperial blockade against the Island, the Head of State expressed that Cuba is not alone. And as for the hostile attitude of the empire, he enunciated: “We will not admit interference in internal affairs, no matter who it comes from.” The First Secretary of the Central Committee expressed that Cuba does not renounce the construction of Socialism, does not renounce the prosperity created through Socialism.
“We once again ratify that we have nothing against the American people,” said Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, who also asserted that Cuba opens its doors to the children of that country, and in particular to Cubans who love their homeland and who for various reasons live in the United States.
“We are willing to dialogue and debate, but without preconditions”, stated the Head of State, who stressed the intention, as Fidel and Raúl have also stated, of “establishing a civilized relationship”, based on the recognition that “we have and will always have ideological differences, but we can have neighborly relations.”