A study of researchers from several institutions in the province of Holguín proposes changes in planting patterns in that territory to increase yields considering the impact of climate change on the behavior of rainfall, temperature and pests.

Scientists suggest new planting and harvesting dates so as good phytosanitary and water management practices including crops such as beans, tomatoes, tobacco, corn, sweet potatoes, yucca and vegetables.


The experts’ proposals, belonging to the Department of Plant Health and the Center for Studies of Arid Agrosystems, of the University of Holguín, take into account detailed observations performed in the field and duly documented, as well as the results of surveys applied to producers.

According to specialists in the fields of Holguín, there is an increase in temperature, which has exceeded 34 years Celsius in
the evaluated stage, along with the systematic periods of drought, which contributes to the appearance of pests and
diseases.

The investigations have detected physiological imbalances which are manifested in the plants, when loosing leaves and
flowers or in the early maturity, for what they propose, in addition to changes in the sowing-harvest patterns, to enrich the
integrated phytosanitary management of soil fungi and use products that stimulate the growth and development phases of
crops, facilitating with this procedure the fight against pests and diseases.

According to experts in Cuba, the impact of climate change on agriculture implies a decrease on plants productivity and
physiology, unexpected variations in the sowing and harvest periods, alterations in the dynamics of pests and diseases,
and the extinction of animal and plant species.