Rice from Vietnam.

Vietnam will ensure sufficient rice supply for Cuba this year, despite the significant increase in the price of rice in the world market recently, said Vietnamese commercial counselor to Cuba Nguyen Thai Binh, reports the Vietnam News Agency (June 10, 2008). Vietnam is Cuba's main rice supplier

providing around 400,000 tons per year. Cuba's rice consumption has reached about 600,000 tons per year, while its annual output is 100,000 tons, according to the national Statistics Office. Vietnam and Cuba have worked together to develop wet rice farming. Experts from Vietnam have provided technical assistance for rice cultivation in six Cuban provinces, which has helped to increase rice yield by three times, up to eight to nine tons per hectare.