Cuba faces new crisis as wheat flour shortage halts bread production
Cuba is once again facing a crisis with the shortage of wheat flour, disrupting the production of bread for the basic basket in several provinces on the island. While there was a brief period of “stability” lasting around two weeks, the situation has quickly deteriorated again.
The most recent case reported is in Villa Clara, where the territory has run out of raw materials to produce daily bread. Consumers expressed their discontent last Sunday when the announcement of the shortage came “a little late”.
Odel Dueñas, director of the state Food Production Company, confirmed on Monday the impossibility of producing the demanded standardized bread due to the lack of the main raw material. He stated that it has been impossible to make bread for the basic basket since the weekend and the distribution will only be guaranteed in essential institutions and centers.
Authorities in the food industry are now waiting for a shipment of 235 tons of wheat flour, expected to arrive in the coming days from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The arrival of the ship in Cuban ports, particularly through the port of Mariel, is seen as a priority to restart the production of standardized bread, at least partially.
The situation highlights the ongoing challenges faced by Cuba in ensuring food security and providing essential items such as bread to its citizens. The government is working to address the issue and minimize the impact of the wheat flour shortage on the population.