HAVANA, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- Cuban authorities are prompting all the sugar refineries to start production before the end of 2018.

Currently, 44 of the 54 plants on the island country are functioning, but the plan of the Azcuba Business Group, which directs the sugarcane harvest, is for all of them to be grinding sugarcane before Dec. 31.

"It's imperative to have a good sugarcane harvest, given the industry and its by-products are part of the strategic sectors for the country's production transformation," said Salvador Valdes Mesa, the first vice president of Cuba.

"The (agricultural industry) is also vital in generating foreign currency with its export products ... and it also has the capacity of self-sufficiency and deliver electricity to the national electric power system," he said.

Last year's harvest ended earlier than expected and without meeting its production targeted due to the impact of adverse weather conditions and in particular, a severe drought, Hurricane Irma at the end of last year and an intense rainfall at the beginning of 2018.

Azcuba directors have asked growers to pay close attention to the planting with the purpose of increasing production and make an adequate preparation.