CUBA: BUMPER CROP OF HIGH QUALITY TOBACCO (V)

Описание: (18 Feb 2000) Voice and effects

There's good news for cigar lovers: the Cuban harvest, which is almost complete, has produced a bumper crop of high quality tobacco.

Cuban cigars have become one of the communist island's most important hard currency earners in recent years with trade rapidly on the increase.

0:02 Tobacco - the life blood of this bustling agicultural province in Pinar Del Rio.

0:08 This year the Cuban government pushed hard to further increase the yield.

0:12 But seasonal factors have also been favourable.

0:16 A cold winter followed by the driest December since 1941 has produced a bumper crop.

0:23
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"This harvest is a very good one. It has produced a high yield. We're banging away at it, to see what we can do - you've got to keep fighting, because there are a few problems, but they're small ones."
SUPER CAPTION: Bienvenido Martinez, Tobacco Farmer

0:36 At Cuba's most famous tobacco farm, the 'Vega Robaina', the harvest is nearly in.

0:43 Leaves are picked by hand and taken to "drying houses" before they're sewn, one by one, onto long strings.

0:49 UPSOT: Leaves being threaded

0:53 Looking at the dried leaves, 81 Alejandro Robaino, owner of the farm, says he's produced an exceptional crop.

1:03
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"I believe the smokers of the world can expect from this year one of the best cigars, in many years, from Cuba."
SUPER CAPTION: Alejandro Robaina, Head of Robaina Tobacco Farm

1:11 This sign reads "Pinar Del Rio, the land of the best tobacco in the world."

1:19 Last year the sale of Cuban cigars brought in 260 million U-S dollars

1:23 There's great hope for even higher profits this year.

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