VivirLatino

Chavez Vs. Food and Farmers

11:28 H | Topics: Controversia - Food - Politics - Venezuela

With the focus off Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and his role in the liberation of two FARC hostages, attention is drawn back internally and to reports of food shortages. The shortages on staples such as milk,bread,eggs and meat are being linked to government controls on prices. These controls are set to insure that all residents can afford these staples. However, some farmers are choosing to sell their wares outside of Venezuela, where they can get higher prices. This has caused one of the scariest words (at least in the US) to be thrown around : nationalization.

Hugo Chavez, during his weekly radio show, threatened to take over farms that sold outside the country, and even use military force.

"I'm putting you on alert," Chavez said. "If there's a producer that refuses to sell the product ... and sells it at a higher price abroad ... ministers, find me the proof so it can be expropriated."
Addressing his Cabinet, he said: "If the army must be brought in, you bring in the army."

Chavez said he would raise the price of milk to help farmers and said he would nationalize banks that didn't give low interest loans to farmers. Venezuela, like many South American countries, imports much of its food. Chavez said he also wanted to change that and make Venezuela into a food producing nation.

Via / BBC and CNN

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