Large producers not harvesting at full capacity [View all]

[Catherina]

Deputy Braulio Alvarez says that large producers not harvesting at full capacity

Caracas, 19 May. AVN. - The deputy of the National Assembly stated that the large producers, grouped by example in the Confederation of Associations of Agricultural Producers (Fedagro) have left between 30% and 40 % of their land uncultivated, preferring to engage in "foreign exchange and import activities", which threaten food sovereignty.

In the program "Socialist Debate" broadcast this Saturday night by Venezolana de Television (VTV), the parliamentary and peasant leader stressed the importance of having strong financing for small and medium farms to enable them to grow various crops. "We have the ability to produce more," he said.

He also noted that since Hugo Chavez to power almost four million hectares were liberated from large estates and are beginning to recover "because they were all poisoned" referring to the use of agrotoxic pesticides.

...

He noted that there have been important advances since the revolution, such as an increase from 1.6 million to 2.4 million hectares being harvested and 24 million tons of food produced per year up from 17 million beforehand. However, he admitted that this growth has not been sufficient, given the increase in population and consumption by increasing purchasing power of the people, plus the huge state penetration of networks of food distribution.

...

http://www.avn.info.ve/contenido/diputado-braulio-%C3%A1lvarez-afirma-que-grandes-productores-no-cosechan-su-m%C3%A1xima-capacidad