In pictures: Cuban stories

Alejandro Robaina, 88, cultivates tobacco plants in Pinar del Rio, Cuba's westernmost province.

He is famous for producing the finest wrapper leaves for Cuban cigars and has a brand named after him.

Mr Robaina recalls telling Fidel Castro some 14 years ago that he was against co-operatives and state farms and that the best way to grow tobacco was on family farms.

"He took my advice and two months later they handed back land to small farmers."