Cuban farmers are increasingly attempting to sell their land at reduced prices as a deepening fuel shortage, driven by U.S. sanctions, exacerbates the country’s food crisis. The restrictions, imposed under former President Donald Trump’s administration, have drastically limited Cuba’s access to diesel and oil, essential for irrigation, machinery, and transport, forcing many farms to halt operations and leaving produce to rot in the fields.

Since early 2023, Cuba has endured electricity blackouts lasting up to 22 hours daily, coinciding with a halt in most oil shipments due to the suspension of fuel imports. The economic toll has compounded hardships already felt by many Cubans; prior to the tightened sanctions, seven out of ten citizens were reportedly skipping at least one meal daily. Now, scarce fuel supplies have immobilized tractors and hindered farm deliveries, prompting numerous farmers to advertise their land—often at prices far beyond the reach of average Cubans with median monthly incomes below $10.

One farmer from central Cuba’s principal agricultural zone, identified only as Juan, has placed his 7.5-hectare farm, including a tractor and oxen, up for sale at a sharply reduced $8,000, down from an initial asking price of $9,500. However, few on the island have the means to purchase farmland given the worsening economic situation.

The crisis extends beyond private farms. State-owned agricultural ventures also suffer, with reports of mangoes rotting due to a lack of transportation. Annabelle Cantarero Sánchez, who manages an organic farm west of Havana, described widespread paralysis linked to fuel scarcity, noting that farmers are now bypassing state cooperatives in favor of direct sales to restaurants because cooperation payments are delayed and insufficient. However, even these sales face obstacles, as the limited fuel supply restricts delivery capabilities across rural areas.

Food access challenges have intensified amid a broader economic restructuring initiated by Cuba’s leadership last month. President Miguel Díaz-Canel announced 176 measures aimed at reforming the country’s socialist economic model, including the end of universal food rationing, which had been in place since 1962. The ration system will now prioritize vulnerable populations such as pensioners and chronically ill children, while others will need to purchase food at market prices or rely on remittances delivered via online platforms, which themselves have encountered distribution difficulties.

The fuel scarcity stems primarily from U.S. sanctions targeted at Cuba’s military-linked conglomerates and its main energy supplier, Venezuela. Since the enforcement of these sanctions, the island has received only two oil shipments this year, significantly reducing fuel availability and directly impacting agricultural production, transportation, and refrigeration. According to consultants and analysts, agricultural output had already declined considerably between 2018 and 2023, with pork, rice, beans, and milk production all falling sharply.

Efforts to adapt to these conditions include policy proposals to invite private and foreign investment in sectors historically controlled by the state. Prime Minister Manuel Marrero indicated plans to permit franchises such as fast-food chains to operate in Cuba, reflecting an openness to private enterprise as part of the reforms.

While some farmers like Cantarero Sánchez continue to manage limited sales by personally delivering produce despite fuel costs, many younger Cubans are reportedly reluctant to inherit family farms under current conditions. The cumulative pressures of the fuel blockade and economic downturn have left many in the farming community anticipating significant changes soon.

“The situation was bad before — it just got 10 times worse in five months,” said Paul Johnson, a Cuba consultant, underscoring the urgency for relief to the country’s food production and supply networks. As Cuba navigates these challenges, the future of its agricultural sector remains uncertain amid tightening sanctions and proposed economic reforms.