Hurricane Melissa Causes Agricultural Losses in Guantánamo Province, Cuba

Hurricane Melissa impacted agricultural areas in Cuba, causing damage to plantations and harvests in locations including Guantánamo and Maisí. The province of Guantánamo launched its 2026-2027 coffee harvest across eight municipalities, acknowledging that the previous harvest had been notably low due to factors including heavy rains and Hurricane Melissa. The storm caused severe agricultural and infrastructural damage in Santiago de Cuba, Granma, Holguín, and Guantánamo. Regional reports estimated crop losses at approximately 390,000 acres.

The agricultural losses affect the core economic output of Guantánamo Province. Maisí, which is the largest producing municipality, accounted for a significant portion of the accumulated maturation. The challenges faced by the harvest require ongoing policy and operational responses from the affected entities.