CAMAGÜEY.- With entities in the municipalities of Esmeralda, Florida, Camagüey, Santa Cruz del Sur, and a main headquarters in Vertientes, the Ruta Invasora Grain Agroindustrial Company is experiencing a consolidation stage after two very depressed years in sowing. In conversation with Michel Bayate Camejo, its general director, Adelante was able to learn about the projections and lines of work they manage.
“Achieving self-sufficiency is a gigantic task that we must accomplish. For this, the province needs in the order of 45,500 tons (ton) of rice for consumption, which represents about 95,000 of the wet to process in the field, a figure very close to the historical record of this company. The rice farmers have the willingness to face it, but the challenge is great”.
High planting levels are expected, with the new modalities of self-management of inputs, but the effects of flooding and heavy rains in the territory at the beginning of June caused many problems. "The positive thing was that the depressed containers benefited, and now they are at 88%, something that did not happen more than fifteen years ago."
According to Bayate, the damage to various crops exceeds 3 million pesos, squash, cassava and corn suffered especially, and these lands require treatment. The strategy is now based on short-cycle ones.
"Invasive Route defines the production of various crops in Camagüey. We have a development area with around 700 ha and two important productive poles that exceed 1,500. The province's management has guaranteed us diesel for the recovery of the Ignacio Agramonte, decisive in the territory. A group of actions are carried out there for its consolidation, such as the creation of camps to look for work forces".
The company is characterized by diversification, in the years in which rice planting levels decreased, they ventured into livestock and other areas, but increased added value with rice by-products.
"Today we have sweet shops that make rice flour, and the acceptance has been very good. In a popular council of the main municipality we offer daily between 1,800 and 2,000 units of bread, experiences that we are transferring to Vertientes."
They also have a modern Base Business Unit (UEB) sponsored by a foreign representative, which processes about 20 tons of coal per day.
"We have provided the human capital and they have the industry. We process the coal and sell it through the company. We are in the process of organizing and finalizing the file to present it and have the association approved," explains Pablo Ramírez Agramonte, head of brigade in that unit.
Ruta Invasora has a policy that wherever there is a company UEB, they must stand out there helping the community. Among the many "gravity points" that offer food to the population, the Vertientes Shopping Center stands out, a benchmark in the province.
"Approximately 100 daily servings are sold here at prices that do not exceed 45 pesos. Although it does not give great economic results, nor does it lose losses, but it achieves a considerable social impact," says Bayate.
"We open from 8:30 in the morning, with gastronomy services, and lunch at noon. Clients are regular, many come almost every day, some eat up to two dishes, and others take food for the home or work," says Yoenis Pacheco Sánchez, a salesperson at the center.
One of those who never fails to consume is Sebastián Madrazo Martínez, who has frequented the facility since its inception and has summoned more people because of how good he feels there. "The prices, the quality and the treatment cannot be better, that is why I say that in the municipality there is no space like this."
"This has saved Vertientes, a lot of people come and the service and hygiene are impeccable. It's wonderful, the affordable price for us retirees and low-income people. It's always like that, it's not because the press came today," stresses the client Gladys Alvarez Carvajal.
The relationship with the University of Camagüey is another of the points that the company supports with special interest. They have been working permanently with several of its faculties for more than 5 years, and have projects such as planting protein plants, raising small livestock animals, and the policy of rice varieties from genetic selection.
"We believe that we still lack untapped potential, the country wants the socialist state company to be the backbone of the economy, and I think that that's where we're moving," says Bayate.
"We implemented the search for the native potential of the territory, exponentiating the added value and reaching the people at affordable prices."
Translated by Linet Acuña Quilez