Cuban President Raul Castro has approved the lending of small amounts of additional state land to private farmers and cooperatives according to a decree published today.
Private farmers who have shown themselves to be productive can get up to 99 acres (40 hectares) of land for an initial period of 10 years that can be renewed, said the decree published in Communist Party newspaper Granma.
Under land reforms put in place after the 1959 revolution, Cubans have been able to own small amounts of land.
Cooperatives can also get up to 99 acres (40 hectares) for 25 years, with the possibility of renewing, according to the new law.
The decree, which has been promised for some time by Castro, is the latest of several small reforms he has made to make Cuba's state-run economy more productive since formally replacing ailing brother Fidel Castro as president in February.
He has said Cuba needs to increase food production to replace imports, which have been rising in price.
The decree also said the farmers would have to pay taxes on their production, but did not say how much.
Reuters