Terry Vinduska experiences Cuba firsthand with U.S. Grains Council
By ROWENA PLETT
Staff writer
Not many Americans have traveled to Cuba in the half-century since communist Fidel Castro took power. Travel to Cuba by private citizens is not allowed by the U.S. government.
Terry Vinduska of Marion, however, recently visited the country as a member of the board of directors of the U.S. Grains Council. The council had a travel license from the government.
Vinduska said he didn't get to visit the countryside but spent a couple of days in Havana.
They received a royal welcome at the airport by officials of Alimport, the government trade ministry.
They were escorted to a fancy waiting room and were served drinks while waiting for their luggage.
The group was given a bus tour through part of Havana. Vinduska said it was like a step back in time.
"Everything stopped after the 1960s revolution," he said. "There was no more capitalism, no more private enterprise. All stores are government-owned."
Not much was available to buy except artwork and cigars.
The motel where the group stayed was at least 50 years old, as well as the furnishings, and lighting was poor.
Electricity is in short supply. Approximately 40 percent of the city has no power. Even in the Alinport headquarters, several stories in the six-story building had no electricity. Meeting rooms on the floors that had electricity were dimly lighted. There were few streetlights.
The only real economic activity observed was from tourists walking around the city and visiting small art shops and restaurants. Most of the 2,300,000 tourists who visited Cuba in 2005 were from Europe.
The numerous tour buses were modern and air-conditioned and were made in China. Most of the many cars on the streets were 1950s-era U.S. models. Some had been repainted.
Many old cars have been rebuilt with diesel engines and pickup rear axles. Vinduska observed long lines at the few gasoline stations in operation.
In Old Havana, there were several town squares, one containing a huge unused cathedral and a restaurant with outdoor seating.
Shops, small restaurants, homes, and churches surround the squares.
Some of the beautiful buildings with colonial architecture dating back to the turn of the 20th century are being restored with money from the U.N. and Europe.
Some large homes have been turned into small specialty hotels while others are vacant or run down.
"Havana will be perfect for tourists when travel opens up," Vinduska said. "Several varied restaurants are available now. However, the infrastructure could not handle many more tourists."
He wondered how the Cuban people and economy would adjust to money coming in.
Vinduska never heard Castro's name while in Cuba. He saw a lot of police and armed guards but never felt threatened. He said there were no signs of crime, but his group was advised to keep valuables with them at all times.
The people they met with seemed to be glad to see the Americans and were hospitable. Few people in Cuba speak English, but some of the trade officials were fluent in English. Others used interpreters.
Trade and agriculture
Vinduska is a representative of the Kansas Corn Commission on the U.S. Grains Council.
The official visit was intended to encourage increased purchase of grain products from the U.S.
Although the U.S. has an embargo on trade with Cuba, certain items are allowed to be exported including agricultural commodities.
The 13-member delegation was in Cuba from Jan. 15-17. They negotiated an agreement which calls for Cuba to purchase 27,500,000 bushels of U.S. corn in 2006. Total value? $100 million.
The purchase is an increase of 45 percent over the previous high. It has been estimated that $21 billion worth of U.S. imports could go to Cuba over five years if trade would be re-opened.
Argentina is the biggest competitor in corn sales, but officials told the delegation they like the quality of U.S. corn. Dairy is the biggest user of corn in Cuba, and hog production is set to increase.
Collective farms are given a production quota to fulfill for the government. Anything produced over the quota can be sold, though not many buyers are available.
Extra fruits and vegetables are sold at farmers' markets. Cubans eat a lot of rice, mostly imported from Vietnam.
Cuba used to grow a huge amount of sugar cane but because of low world prices, production on half the acreage has been shifted to fruits, vegetables, and timber, some of which is exported to Europe.
Vinduska said the Cuban people don't understand why the embargo is in place. Officials keep close watch on how congressmen in the major grain-producing states vote on Cuban trade issues.
They noted that Kansas representatives Jerry Moran and Dennis Moore voted to open trade while Jim Ryan and Todd Tiahart voted against it.
"Why should we buy corn from your state when you don't support open trade?" they asked Vinduska.
They showed an interest in purchasing wheat and milo from Kansas, primarily for feed. (All of Kansas' corn is used internally.)
Vinduska said government officials stressed they want to trade with U.S. businesses and agriculture.
"They continually asked if we knew anyone wanting to do business with Cuba, and they asked us to sign letters they are sending to U.S. congressmen to show our support for open trade," he said.
Vinduska said political issues must be addressed for trade to flourish, and much capital investment is needed for port and infrastructure development.
The Cuban government puts a lot of effort into developing pharmaceuticals. Cubans claim to have developed genetically engineered vaccines for cancer.
The government exports medicines and has special trade agreements with Argentina.
Mexico
The U.S. delegation traveled to Mexico from Cuba, meeting with government leaders, grain traders, and large feed mill operators.
The Mexican government is being pressured to raise corn quotas and allow more U.S. corn into the country because the need is so great.
Vinduska said he did not realize just how large Mexico City is. He said it is the largest city in the world at 25 million people and is growing by 2,000 a day.
One feed mill operator told Vinduska he prefers Kansas milo over Texas milo.
Most grain is shipped to Mexico by train, but a harbor at the coastal city of Veracruz is being dredged to receive more grain by ship.
"Our time in Mexico gave us a chance to hear their concerns and what they want and to let them know what we have to offer," Vinduska said.
Ag Info meeting is March 8 in Marion
The annual Ag Info meeting sponsored by Central National Bank and Jerry Cady Agency will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 8 at Marion City Building.
A KSU economist and the Kansas Secretary of Agriculture will be featured speakers.
