Reframing food sovereignty in Eastern Cuba: Resilience and agency among small-scale farming communities
Date
2025
Authors
Frederick, Dana
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Publisher
University of Victoria
Abstract
Cuba has historically maintained low levels of malnutrition through its state rationing system, and agrarian reforms in the 1990s led to the nation being hailed as a success story in food sovereignty and sustainable agriculture. However, a worsening economic crisis, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing trade embargoes, has led to nationwide scarcity, forcing many individuals to rely on alternative economies to access food. This research examines the concept of food adequacy within the socio-political and economic context of Eastern Cuba, exploring how lived experiences of small-scale farmers in a socialist state challenge and inform the predominantly capitalist-centric discourse on food sovereignty. Using qualitative ethnographic methods, this research emphasizes the resilience and agency of small-scale farmers through their diverse strategies for mitigating food inadequacy and explores how they navigate the intersection between state and informal economies. Findings reveal limitations in current food sovereignty discourse and offer a unique perspective on broader discussions of agro-resilience and food adequacy in small-scale farming communities.
Description
Keywords
food adequacy, food sovereignty, Cuba, small-scale farmers, iternative economies, agro-resilience