The Rural Voice, 1978-12, Page 4190% Cuban exports
are agricultural
More than 90 per cent of Cuban exports
are agricultural products, sugar alone
accounting for 80 per cent.
Despite production gains in rice, milk,
cocoa, tobacco, beef and pork, Cuba still
relies heavily on imports of wheat, flour,
feed grains, rice, skim milk powder, beans,
coffee and canned meats.
Citrus production, particularly grape-
fruit. is identified as one of the four priority
sectors for development.
Mexico
now our biggest customer
for surplus skim milk
Mexico has become tanaoa s biggest
customer for surplus skim milk. according
to statistics released this month by the
federal agriculture department in a weekly
dairy produce report.
The sales, made by the Canadian Dairy
Commission, carry an export subsidy
which commission leaders have said
averages about 50 cents a pound.
A total of 367.490,300 pounds was
exported last year and was valued at
$69,867.000. That works out to an average
price just under 15 cents a pound. The
commission purchases surplus powder at
70 cents a pound and pays storage until it is
exported.
Mexico bought almost 51 million pounds
in 1976, but almost doubled that order to
91.538,400 pounds last year and paid
$18,317,000 or an average price of slightly
more than 20 cents a pound.
Japan was the second largest purchaser
taking 48,736,900 pounds for $7,437,000 or
an average price of slightly less than 15
cents a pound.
Cuba, which has in the past been our
biggest single customer, bought 11,244,00
pounds, less than half the amount bought
in 1976 and less than a third the amount in
1975. Cuba paid $2,203,000, or an average
price of 18 cents a pound.
Argentina was the largest single buyer
of whole milk powder, taking 5,692.100
pounds for $2.189,000.
The same statistics reveal for the first
time the deal to sell Algeria evaporated
milk. She took delivery of 45,637,100
pounds last year and paid $6,940.000.
That program. called the butterfat
exchange program, is supposed to save
farmers money because they lose less
exporting evaporated milk than they would
exporting surplus skim milk powder.
The dairy commission has refused to
divulge sales prices and volumes in the
past because it has claimed this would
hamper its sales efforts by providing
competitors with too much information.
WE'RE IN BUSINESS
TO KEEP YOU WORKING
Chisel Plow
Points
Mould Boards
Shins
Grade 8 Fine
Thread Bolts
Plow Points
landsides
Coulter Blades
Hand Tools
Roller Chain
Grade 5 Coarse
Thread Bolts
Cultivator Points
0„,
'use Disc Blades
FARM TOOL MAN
CR*TION Kir
oro'
Shop Tools
ALL TILLAGE TOOLS IN STOCK!
HUGH PARSONS
BOLTS AND TOOLS LTD.
262-5681
11/4 Mi. East of Hensel)
THE RURAL VOICE/DECEMBER 1978 PG. 41