Can Havana's urban food gardens be an answer to world hunger?

In North America, we take our food security for granted due to a quick and ready supply of millions of edibles that are at our disposal 24/7. However, very seldom do we see innovative solutions or successful efforts in the developing world to curb food insecurity. Food security is subject to various socio-political analyses at multiple levels of development. This issue stems from two basic nuclei: a) inaccessibility to food and b) unavailability of quality food items. The intersectionality of these two, coupled with social inequality can produce disastrous results for the general security of any society. An insecure household or country is under threats from all forms of internal and external forces. Many political uprisings and unrests around the world can be traced back directly to lack of food or mismanagement of food related resources. Also, a country can end up in lifelong shackles of debt due to loaning money (to buy food) from international organizations on conditions that jeopardize/compromise its security and sovereignty. Therefore, securing the food related resources through policy making should be the top priority of any government.

 Cuba was one of those countries which could have easily been broken both from inside and outside after it stopped trading with Soviet Union following the latter’s dissolution in early 90’s. Due to this sudden change, Cuba had to deal with immense food shortages. The way Cuban officials dealt with the issue of food production is commendable and an excellent example of state-level ingenuity and grassroots self-reliance.

The Agricultural ministry of Havana started a grassroots initiative to convert empty and abandoned public spaces into food gardens. These urban gardens called ‘Organoponicos’ are state-owned but publicly managed. 

The state provides land, water and organic pesticides and the public provides intensive labor and operational management and ownership. Through this project, old junkyards, abandoned buildings, backyards and front yards of houses all over Havana have been used to grow various kinds of fresh produce. At present, there are 26000 urban food gardens in Havana which, along with producing fresh fruits and vegetables, are breeding grounds for domestic animals as well, thus producing eggs, milk and meat.  In terms of urban planning, it’s a very innovative approach to improve the aesthetics of decayed and damaged urban structures without bringing them down.  These gardens have been providing food for the city for 24 years, preserving Cuba’s sovereignty and self-reliance of its people. 

The Cuban model of food production is now being applied in Venezuela and Cancun as well, albeit with some operational and structural differences. 

So what do you think about this concept of urban food gardens? Can it be used to curb food insecurity in other developing countries? What will be the private landowner’s response to such a system in a capitalist society? What will be the response of black markets prevalent in many developing countries that thrive on conditions created by food insecurity? Can this model work in the absence of a collectivist/socialist state? Please let me know of your valuable opinions in the comment section below.