Land Reform or Fraud? WHO IS RIGHT AND WHO IS WRONG?
A fraudulent invitation?
July Delegation to Venezuela: Human Rights, Food Sovereignty & Social Change The Alberto Lovera Bolivarian Circle of NY invites you to join us in July for a 10-day trip to Venezuela examining advances in food sovereignty and other initiatives for social change. Start off in the capital city of Caracas, then travel to 3 additional states, including visits to newly formed cooperative farms and rural development projects in the countryside; community and national media outlets; government sponsored social programs, including Mercal markets and Barrio Adentro medical clinics, and much more. Meet with farmers, community leaders, and government officials. Sightseeing and visits to some of the country's beautiful natural areas will also be included. When: July 27 to August 5 2009 Where: Start and end in Caracas; visits to the states of Cojedes, Portuguesa, and Aragua Cost for Activities: $700. This will cover all lodging, all transportation, and some meals for the duration of the trip. Additional expenses during the trip will be minimal. **airfare not included**
July Delegation to Venezuela: Human Rights, Food Sovereignty & Social Change The Alberto Lovera Bolivarian Circle of NY invites you to join us in July for a 10-day trip to Venezuela examining advances in food sovereignty and other initiatives for social change. Start off in the capital city of Caracas, then travel to 3 additional states, including visits to newly formed cooperative farms and rural development projects in the countryside; community and national media outlets; government sponsored social programs, including Mercal markets and Barrio Adentro medical clinics, and much more. Meet with farmers, community leaders, and government officials. Sightseeing and visits to some of the country's beautiful natural areas will also be included. When: July 27 to August 5 2009 Where: Start and end in Caracas; visits to the states of Cojedes, Portuguesa, and Aragua Cost for Activities: $700. This will cover all lodging, all transportation, and some meals for the duration of the trip. Additional expenses during the trip will be minimal. **airfare not included**
Report from Venezuela.
EL CHARCOTE, Venezuela -- Venezuela's farmland expropriations began in earnest in 2005, with the government employing a 2001 law allowing it to seize lands deemed idle or not adequately used. Some landowners have received compensation, and others have mounted legal challenges with mixed results. The government has also seized some ranches alleging the owners didn't hold legal title in the first place.
The government could still claim an additional 8.6 million acres (3.5 million hectares) of farmland, Loyo said.
Taking over ranches has helped boost Chavez's popularity in rural areas. At El Charcote, the government also provides free education and health care.
"What's important is to have work," said Jose Nausa, 37, who rents seven acres (three hectares) from another person with a farming permit at El Charcote.
But other farmers like Gomez told The Associated Press their production has lagged because of disorganized local councils and government delays in delivering aid such as agricultural loans.
Overall, production of corn, rice and chicken has increased under Chavez, agricultural expert Machado Allison said. But output has changed little for many foods and has plunged for beef, sugar and fruit - contributing to inflation that hit 30.9 percent last year.
While Venezuela was nearly self-sufficient in beef production a decade ago, it now imports nearly half the beef it consumes, he added. Beef prices have soared as a result.
El Charcote ranch once belonged to Agropecuaria Flora, owned by the British company Vestey Group Ltd., which handed it over to the government in March 2006 for $4.2 million - months after troops and small farmers had seized it. The company moved its cattle to other ranches.
Though the government carved out dozens of 37-acre (15-hectare) plots for small farmers, they cover just a small fraction of land previously used for cattle.
Such lackluster results have been the norm at many expropriated ranches, said Hiram Gaviria, a former agriculture minister who broke with Chavez in 2001. He said the government is boosting imports while "destroying the nation's productive system."
Loyo condemned the reselling of farming rights by some to make a profit. He said the government aims to instill a collective work ethic among farmers, help them plant more crops and create a farmers' council at El Charcote in charge of making the unused land productive.
EL CHARCOTE, Venezuela -- Venezuela's farmland expropriations began in earnest in 2005, with the government employing a 2001 law allowing it to seize lands deemed idle or not adequately used. Some landowners have received compensation, and others have mounted legal challenges with mixed results. The government has also seized some ranches alleging the owners didn't hold legal title in the first place.
The government could still claim an additional 8.6 million acres (3.5 million hectares) of farmland, Loyo said.
Taking over ranches has helped boost Chavez's popularity in rural areas. At El Charcote, the government also provides free education and health care.
"What's important is to have work," said Jose Nausa, 37, who rents seven acres (three hectares) from another person with a farming permit at El Charcote.
But other farmers like Gomez told The Associated Press their production has lagged because of disorganized local councils and government delays in delivering aid such as agricultural loans.
Overall, production of corn, rice and chicken has increased under Chavez, agricultural expert Machado Allison said. But output has changed little for many foods and has plunged for beef, sugar and fruit - contributing to inflation that hit 30.9 percent last year.
While Venezuela was nearly self-sufficient in beef production a decade ago, it now imports nearly half the beef it consumes, he added. Beef prices have soared as a result.
El Charcote ranch once belonged to Agropecuaria Flora, owned by the British company Vestey Group Ltd., which handed it over to the government in March 2006 for $4.2 million - months after troops and small farmers had seized it. The company moved its cattle to other ranches.
Though the government carved out dozens of 37-acre (15-hectare) plots for small farmers, they cover just a small fraction of land previously used for cattle.
Such lackluster results have been the norm at many expropriated ranches, said Hiram Gaviria, a former agriculture minister who broke with Chavez in 2001. He said the government is boosting imports while "destroying the nation's productive system."
Loyo condemned the reselling of farming rights by some to make a profit. He said the government aims to instill a collective work ethic among farmers, help them plant more crops and create a farmers' council at El Charcote in charge of making the unused land productive.
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