Claims of arrested production because of expropriations

Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez is set on keeping with the policy of lands "rescue." "Let us exercise power," was his appeal on his TV and radio show "Aló, Presidente" (Hello, President!).

The president is positive that in several Venezuelan states, some of the best lands are wasted, and he emphasized that his government could not allow that. "The pace of lands rescue should be set up."

Based on the numbers supplied by the Executive Office, from 2004 to date, government authorities have requisitioned around 3,600,000 hectares. Such stretch of land does not mean raising food output.

As stated in the case study "Recent development and current status of the Venezuelan food system," prepared by Andes University professors, "government intense steps in the field of expropriations, rescue and award of lands is not consistent with the outcome regarding production."

Co-author Alejandro Gutiérrez thinks that the Venezuelan government is "trapped" because of the ideological issue. "Is it expropriation for ideological reasons or to increase production?" Gutiérrez wonders.

He recommends government authorities ascertaining whether keeping the lands policy implemented so far or, to the contrary, amending it. "They ought to assess it in depth, because in terms of production, no results are apparent."

While Gutiérrez let on that land ownership is not "absolute," he did uphold the need for "clear rules." In fact, another of the harmful components of the so-called "rescue," in his view, is that it discourages farmers' investments.

"People cannot produce this way and the State lacks the conditions to produce as the private ones do."

As far as Jorge Botti, the president of the Venezuelan Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Fedecámaras), is concerned, "inconsistency" hallmarks government policies.

"I can see much inconsistency. Sometimes, they seem to understand that controls are not feasible; missing production is avowed; but they use the same recipe, that is, threats of expropriation."

Translated by Conchita Delgado