Developing tuber clones, spreading the harvest of small varieties, diversifying crops, and boosting the use of windbreaker barriers are some of the actions undertaken in Cuba to minimize losses as a result of hurricanes.

The director of that institution, Sergio Rodriguez, told the press that an
increase in cyclonic activity and in the intensity of hurricanes due to
global warming demand a readjustment in agriculture.

While addressing the participants in the First International Symposium on
roots, rhizomes, tubers, bananas, and papaya, Rodriguez noted that Cuban
farmers must plant different crops at the time.

He said that in order to assure a better yielding of the soil and guarantee the presence of agricultural products in the markets after meteorological phenomena, it is necessary to plant different crops in the same field.

Rodriguez explained that the implementation of agro-ecological practices in Cuba, such as planting timber and fruit trees around fields, has contributed with the protection of fields.

The head of the Cuban Forecast Center of the Institute of Meteorology,
Jose Rubiera, illustrated the increase of vulnerable areas in Cuba and explained that the 68 meteorological stations and eight radars allow monitoring the whole island to design early alert plans.

Rubiera pointed out that joint work with the Civil Defense and the mainstream media account for evacuating people and goods and protecting their lives effectively so as to prevent deaths and material losses.

He noted that Cuba was hardest hit by the 2008 cyclonic season, which
brought about losses above the ten billion dollars, a 20 percent of the
Cuban Gross Domestic Product.