VOA新闻杂志2023--Two Cubans Combine Fishing, Farming for Better Food Production

Two Cubans Combine Fishing, Farming for Better Food Production

Cuba is undergoing economic crisis and shortages. This can make even simple efforts like fishing or farming complex.

That is why two young Cuban businessmen decided¹ to turn to aquaponics to get better results and increase the amount of food available on the island nation.

Aquaponics is a practice that uses wastewater from fish farming to grow food plants in a soil-less environment. It brings together fishing and farming in a way that is both efficient and environmentally friendly.

Joel Lopez, co-owner of JoJo Aquaponics, said the practice is a perfect fit for Cuba. "From fish to the production of food plants, everything is natural," he said while showing visitors the building where JoJo Aquaponics farms, outside of Havana, the capital of Cuba.

At the end of the month, the harvest includes both a protein from the fish, and a vegetable green – all without the use of expensive chemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides².

Cuba is facing its worst economic downturn in many years. Shortages of food, medicine and fuel have led the government to seek help from businesses in finding new solutions.

But businesses face a difficult environment in Cuba. The trade ban enforced by the United States makes doing business complex. And the Cuban government only recently permitted private businesses.

Jose Martinez is a co-owner of JoJo Aquaponics. He said aquaponics is costly³ and it has been difficult to raise money for the project. Martinez added that his business received some money from local government, though it was not enough.

Even with the barriers, many Cubans increasingly believe private businesses will succeed in a country where the average person earns less than $20 a month.

Words in This Story

efficient–adj. preventing waste

fertilizer–n. a chemical substance added to increase fertility

 

pesticide–n. a chemical or biological substance that protects from harmful organisms

1 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

2 pesticides   

n.杀虫剂( pesticide的名词复数 )；除害药物

参考例句：

• vegetables grown without the use of pesticides 未用杀虫剂种植的蔬菜
• There is a lot of concern over the amount of herbicides and pesticides used in farming. 人们对农业上灭草剂和杀虫剂的用量非常担忧。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。