The Abastecimiento Book
On March 12, 1962, Fidel Castro, leader of the Cuban Revolution, announced by decree the creation of the Supply Book , a system for distributing certain food resources and controlling prices on the island, part of the new policy of nationalization of the planned economy.
The food book is the document through which Cuban families receive a group of food products periodically and subsidized by the Cuban State. It was officially established on July 12, 1963, with the creation of the Food Control and Distribution Offices (OFICODA). A year earlier, the revolutionary government had promulgated Law No. 1015, regulating the consumption of food and other commonly used products.
Originally, the ration book covered only food and basic necessities, but later it also included clothing and footwear. This system was a response to the measures taken by the American administration against the Cuban government, which had limited the supply of food and other essential items.
However, the collapse of the European socialist countries and the disintegration of the USSR led to a serious economic crisis in Cuba, forcing the government to gradually reduce the list of products available through the supply book, especially foodstuffs, while industrial products disappeared.
In the guidelines for the economic and social policy of the Party and the Revolution, approved at the VI Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba, the need to eliminate the supply book was raised, due to its unsustainable nature in economic terms. This issue has generated lively debate, since this system is considered essential for the subsistence of the most vulnerable families in Cuba.
What do Cubans buy today with the supply book?
Arriving in Cuban homes in 1963, the food card system was well received at the time because it guaranteed the necessary food for every Cuban, regardless of race, age or gender.
In the past, with the carnet, Cubans could buy about twenty products once a month at relatively affordable prices. Memories of Cubans from the 80s include buying rice, beans, oil, butter, milk, salt, sugar, coffee and even soft drinks, beers and candy in bodegas, as well as cigarettes and cigars.
Today, the reality is very different. With galloping inflation and persistent shortages, the supply book has become very limited. Currently, a Cuban can buy, once a month: five eggs, a quarter pound of chicken, half a pound of oil, five pounds of rice, 10 ounces of black beans, a box of matches, sugar and a daily loaf.
Every three months, it is possible to get 400 grams of pasta and one kilogram of salt. For children under three years old, ten fruit compotes are guaranteed, while those up to seven years old receive one kilogram of powdered milk per month.
However, these quantities are generally considered insufficient for the needs of a family. Exceptional situations, such as after tropical storms or during health crises, may result in increased distribution, but this remains rare.
Despite the symbolic importance of the booklet, the announcement of its abolition has caused fear among many Cubans, especially the elderly who rely on the system to obtain at least a little food each month.
In 2011, Raul Castro had raised the possibility of a gradual elimination of the supply book, considering it a burden for the State, but this announcement had caused great concern among the population, who feared finding themselves without this essential support.
Currently, the Cuban government faces considerable challenges, with very low wages and limited access to products in stores, whether in Cuban pesos or freely convertible currency (MLC). This forces Cubans to turn to the black market and the different agricultural markets (agro-mercados) to supplement their supply.
Cubans continue to demonstrate great resourcefulness, seeking solutions to address this food crisis. However, the question remains: how can a rationed supply system be abolished without establishing viable alternatives and economic support for the population?
If the supply book were to disappear one day, its memory would remain etched in history as a symbol of the resilience of the Cuban people in the face of economic challenges.
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