Life in the workers paradise - Cuba

From Reuters:

Cuba reports big increase in food prices
Cubans paid almost 20 percent more for food in 2011 as economic reforms, reduced imports and stagnating farm production touched off price inflation at the country's many produce markets.

The National Statistics Office reported on its website (ONE.CU) that meat prices rose 8.7 percent while produce prices were up 24.1 percent, for an average of 19.8 percent.

The report was bad news for President Raul Castro, who has been loosening the state's grip on farming and retail food services and sales as it seeks to reform its Soviet-style economy by allowing more private initiative and market forces to kick in.

The changes are part of more than 300 reforms adopted by the ruling Communist Party last year to "update" the economy, which authorities have warned will entail a difficult transition.

Yet more proof that big government is the way to go. A bit more:

President Castro has made agricultural reform and increased food production a top priority since taking over for ailing brother Fidel Castro in 2008.

But agricultural output increased just 2 percent last year, after falling 2.5 percent in 2010 and remains below 2005 levels.

At the same time, Castro has cut food imports to reduce spending by the debt-ridden government. Because of low farm output, Cuba imports a budget-busting 60 percent to 70 percent of the food it consumes.

Importing 60% to 70% of their food? There must be some amazing masterminds in their Department of Agriculture. How about just letting the farmers sell their crops and letting the consumers buy them. No wonder they all want to move here...