Pinar del Río, May 30 (RHC-PL)-- Cuba, known as a world tobacco mecca, will increase the areas dedicated to this crop by almost 2,000 hectares, according to sources of the Tabacuba business group.

Gonzalo Rodríguez, an expert with the entity, said that in the upcoming campaign, which begins in October, a total of 20,970 hectares will be planted, representing 2,000 hectares more than in the previous year. The aim, he said, is to respond to the growing demand for Cuban cigars on the world market.

Of the total, 19,000 hectares of tobacco are in the westernmost province of Pinar del Río, considered the largest producer of the high-quality leaves used to produce the sought-after Cuban hand-rolled cigars.