Venezuela produces only 30% of the food needed to maintain its population

The Confederation of Associations of Agricultural Producers of Venezuela (Fedeagro) said today that the domestic production of food of the Caribbean country only reaches to supply 30% of the population, and warned that the new Law on Agreed Prices will further boost the fall in production.

Caracas, Nov 22 (EFE) .- The Confederation of Associations of Agricultural Producers of Venezuela (Fedeagro) said today that the domestic production of food in the Caribbean country only reaches to supply 30% of the population, and warned that the new Law on Agreed Prices will further boost the fall in production.

"With national production we are guaranteeing the Venezuelan food only by 30%, ie, every three days only one day we have guaranteed food with what was done in Venezuela, "said the president of Fedeagro, Aquiles Hopkins, in an interview with the private radio station Union Radio.

Hopkins said that the offer of food made in the country is "very limited and very scarce", so he stressed that instead of apply greater control over the prices of products is necessary to strengthen the national productive apparatus.

"What concerns us is the year 2018 (...) because all the items (products) are falling in this year, "he said.

Likewise, Hopkins considered that the new Agreed Price Law approved yesterday by the ruling National Constituent Assembly (ANC) will become "more of the same", because with an "inflationary and hyperinflationary economy (...) the review will probably have to be weekly or biweekly".

Otherwise, affirms, "what will happen in the last 10 years will happen: items (products) regulated with prices that do not recognize the cost structures, the producer and the The direct consequence is that production falls. "

Thus, he said that a price control in the Venezuelan economy" is a blunder "that" will continue to drive the sustained decline of the national production (of) the last 10 years ".

The Venezuelan Constituent approved on Tuesday a" Law of Agreed Prices "with which it intends to" isolate "the" speculative "factors that, according to the Venezuelan Government, have penetrated into the "price system" of the country.

According to the president of the ANC, Delcy Rodríguez, "this is a legal instrument at the service of the people "in the midst of" tremendous political struggle against economic war "to which the Government blames the shortage and other problems that the country is experiencing.

This law consists of 12 articles and" has aim to establish the fundamental principles and foundations for the price program agreed upon through dialogue and co-responsibility between the public, private, and community sectors; workers, "according to article 1.

Venezuela recorded hyperinflation indexes (inflation of more than 50%) last month, adding to the severe shortages suffered of some foods, medicines and basic products.