Havana, December 6 (RHC-NNN) -- The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has acknowledged Cuba's efforts in developing and implementing strategies to protect soil and achieve sustainable agricultural development.

According to the FAO, out of Cuba's total 11 million hectares of arable land, 6.9 million are used for agriculture and three million for forestry.

FAO regional office for Latin America and the Caribbean said in a statement that much of that land is damaged, which limits agricultural productivity and points to soil erosion, high salinity and drainage problems.

Given this situation, reads the FAO statement, Cuba has implemented since 2001 a National Program for Soil Improvement and Conservation, through which the State finances the implementation of measures and strategies by local farmers to counter those degradation processes.

FAO and Cuban authorities are working jointly under the Programming Framework 2013-2015, which seeks sustainable agricultural development.