If the current economic policies were changed, the agricultural landscape of Venezuela would be hopeful, stated Marcos Leon Guinand, president of the Fruit Growing Association. He said there were problems with all items.
The Venezuelan market imports more than 60% of the white corn and sugar consumed in the country; as well as 70% of the coffee consumed by Venezuelans. "We used to be the country of the arepa (a kind of flatbread of corn), now we are the country of the imported arepa."
The expert recalled that Venezuela used to export fruit to Martinique, Guadeloupe, and other Caribbean islands. Since the exchange rate policy was established, producers were forced to sell 100% of the dollars from sale of their fruits to the Central Bank of Venezuela, at 6.30 bolivars per dollar, which discouraged that market.
Barriers to export
There are many problems with exporting fruit. The Government hinders the export authorization of limes, cocoa, and other agricultural products in the country, said Guinand. The present production of oranges has not boosted the fruit market, he added.
Currently, Venezuela produces 600,000 tons of orange per year, of which only 200,000 are required to supply the entire domestic demand. The rest isn’t used. "We don’t know what is behind these processes." Guinand also considered it was necessary to repeal the law land, the unification of exchange rates, eliminate currency policy, if the country wanted to have the levels of domestic production it had in 1998.
Source: venezuelaaldia.com