Plan Chávez reedits same promises of 13 years ago

On Sunday 12, September 1999, through TV and radio show Aló Presidente (Hello, President!) number 14, Venezuela's President Hugo Chávez promised to have a project intended to develop the economy as never before.

"We are bolstering policies to loosen the production apparatus, to reconstruct it and to boost a truly diversified, humanist, economic model able to generate jobs, production added value, so that we can stop depending only on the oil variable as it has been the case so far: agriculture, cattle-breeding, fishery, tourism, small enterprises, infrastructure, housing."

Thirteen years later, official numbers show that, to date, the goals remain pending.

Ending the first quarter of 2012, oil provides USD 95 in every incoming USD 100; imports account for 32.6% of the overall supply versus 18% in 1997; nine out of the 16 manufacturing sectors produce less as compared to 1997, and housing is lagged behind, to such an extent that only now, attempts are made at bridging the gap under a special plan.

In view of it, the government plan to be implemented by Hugo Chávez if reelected in October 7 for the 2013-2019 presidential term in office, keeps the same promises as in 1999 as to main economic variables.

The new project envisages "unchaining our agricultural production potential" in order to attain "food sovereignty." For such purposes, among others, "household, peasant, urban, peri-urban and indigenous agriculture will be fostered to ensure at least 50% of total production."

In his 13 years in office, Hugo Chávez has tried already to develop agriculture with these methods, through the fight against large estate, land seizure, the smallholding plan, vertical henhouses, flag items, and Zamora's farms, among others.

vsalmeron@eluniversal.com

Translated by Conchita Delgado