Credit Suisse, Duffle Bag

Agricultural empire decays South of Lake Maracaibo



Businesses with fewer sales and producers are afraid of falling under the captions banana, palm oil, milk and meat. The militarization of the area has not reduced the uncertainty. Katie Hernandez



The booming production of meat, milk, oil palm and banana south of Lake Maracaibo, begins to decline. The rains, which damaged much of the crop and caused the death of animals, has joined the taking of property whose activities are key to the agricultural economy of the area.

"The government's arbitrary decision to take farms in full production and to confiscate what is produced has brought more disinvestment and discouragement in the community. Even the stores reported sales declines for farmers, who were his main customers are not buying supplies for fear that they will do the same to the producers, who took the farms, "says the deputy of the table Unit, Juan Romero.

Minister of Agriculture and Lands, Juan Carlos Loyo, admitted in the National Assembly were quantified Bs 500 million in damage to the viability of the municipalities in the south of Lake Maracaibo, due to flooding and rainfall last year. He added that lost 14,000 hectares of banana, oil palm and some cocoa, and the deaths of approximately 12,000 animals among cattle and other species. Less production


Under the guise of emergency caused by the rains, the government ordered the rescue of 47 farms in the south of the lake in December 17, 2010, then was added to the list again for a total of 28. To date, 18 farms have been restored to their owners, but no documentary evidence of the repeal of the intervention. The 26 who remain militarized recorded falls in production and deterioration of the plantations. The farm

The Chapala, Newman family, the production was totally confiscated.

Their owners do not have access to the house or to accounts meat sales and milk, which now runs the government. The farm

Bolivar Brillembourg family, soldiers guard the entrance. Only permit entry to the Armed Forces personnel and INTI. This farm had 12,500 cattle before the rains and produced 7,000 liters of milk a day. Flood was reduced to 5,000 liters per day and the herd went to 8,500. Between January and February milk production fell to less than 1,600 liters per day, and have been taken without permission more than 400 cattle. The farm

The Palmita, the Executive has banned the sale of 60 cattle that were ready for slaughter and tried to seize the milk.

In the El Milagro, dedicated to the production of oil palm plantation part, about 80 acres, pests due to lack of maintenance. As in Olla Grande, considered a model farm for banana production in Latin America. At this farm they found the Sigatoka pest, which damages the foliage and reduces productivity. Insecurity continues


The creation of the Military District of South Lake has brought discomfort to the population.

The few Santa Barbara main roads are congested by the number of checkpoints installed.

Despite the large presence of soldiers, farmers report that they have reduced the uncertainty in the area, on the contrary, full activation of the Military District, more than 20 armed men abducted the farmer Ildemaro Boscan, he arrived at his farm Doll, just minutes from the town of Santa Barbara.

Ruben Dario Barboza, farmer, states that do not understand what is the guarantee of security if they continue the abductions. "In addition to measures such as farm intervention is impossible, to achieve socialist agricultural miracle that preaches the government." AGRO

Green Dots On Laptop Monitor Come And Go

oblige producers to place the production in state enterprises

"If I remove the ranch is like take my life"

Reinaldo Celis, owner of La Palmita, has more than two months without selling gained by the intervention


Katie Hernandez (published in the newspaper El Nacional on Sunday 27 February 2011)
interventions farms in the south of Lake Maracaibo, which includes the municipalities of the states of Tachira, Merida, Trujillo and Zulia, brought greater uncertainty and concern for the livestock sector and agriculture in the region, suffering from years of insecurity problems for the kidnappings.

Measuring the National Land Institute was implemented on 17 December last year to 47 farms, with the allegation that was required to meet the emergency caused by the rains. So far about 18 estates have been restored to their owners, but it has not repealed the decision of intervention of these lands.

Producers argue that the Government has given a kind of subject property, which entitles them to occupy the farms but are denied the freedom to sell, produce and work normally. Are required to place all food companies socialist production. Meanwhile, farmers who have farms are waiting militarized that the Executive bienhechurías define whether to pay or return the property. So far about seven farms courts have demanded the annulment of agricultural relief measure INTI and have requested to suspend the detention order that prevents them from having the production and property. Some of those who suffer from this situation are the estates Bolívar, El Paionios, Olla Grande, Santa Rita, La Rosa, El Milagro, in Zulia, and La Palmita in Merida.

half Agreement. The Government's decision to return the farms has not been transparent and producers argue that while there is no resolution in which the INTI approve the repeal of the administrative action on each of the lands, the specter of intervention will continue to weigh on production units. July

Luzardo, owner of Costa Verde, received the news that his farm had been returned.

confirms that there is no military presence or INTI officials in place, but still lacks a legal document that expresses the state repeals the bailout measure.

indicates that at a meeting with INTI, government officials proposed the establishment of the Network of Free Farmers and Associates.

However, Luzardo not accept the conditions. "I will not be associate producer. They wanted to give 20% or more, from production to exchange, as a sort of barter. It was clear I did not accept. For Rafael Urdaneta, owner of Villa Olga, the Government tries to deceive into believing that recognizes private ownership of farms.

"We do not have access to guidelines to move cattle. The government says the land returned to us but the reality is that we leave our farms as occupiers and not owners, because we are at the expense of the decision of the INTI. It took the military but did not stop writing that the property is returned to us, "Urdaneta said.

charged that the government provides money to farmers for virtually farms and delivered to the state." This is happening because we want buy the conscience, "he said.

For Urdaneta private property at this time on land there.

prisoner in her own home. More than two months after surgery and militarization area, Reinaldo Celis, owner of the hacienda La Palmita (485 hectares), located in the municipality Andrés Bello, Merida state, still with his hands tied. Celis

argues that the government prevented him from continuing with normal activities such as selling cattle to slaughterhouses and stand next to the milk to dairy companies with guaranteed payment. "We could sell the cattle, and milk has been seized from farmers operated in Merida state." Traditionally the Palmita dispatched to Dairy Milk Los Andes, but now the government has not given guarantee and Celis opted to give the product to the community.

"I think my case was a mistake, because it takes the Palmita is to take my life, I give my life for this farm. I'm living more than two months with stress and I have nightmares every night, when I look and see the military feel like I'm a prisoner, "said Celis.

clarified that they have established a respectful coexistence with the military because the farm not only is the workplace, but also the main home he shares with employees.

argued that the farmer's work is very difficult, and if you have tried to hijack four times. "One sacrificed his life for this job . We wonder if having unproductive land is a crime, apparently so is having it productive, " Celis said, who is also chairman of the Cattlemen's Association of the municipality Alberto Adriani. Booty

Andes. Newman family for the bailout measure against its property The Chapala (578 hectares) came as another terrible news.

Agricultural production has given a lot of joy but also sadness and uncertainty, because they have been several kidnappings of loved ones.

Briceño José Albino Newman, 82 years old, said that after the intervention of the estate by the Government denied access to the property and confiscated the meat and milk production.

"I'm really feeling because they were 56 years of my life working on the farm, even lost a finger. All the sacrifices I made and my memories are in that estate, "said Newman, who noted that they produced 1,500 liters of milk a day. However, in developing the beef cattle fattening, milking stabilized between 900 and 1,000 liters per day.

The owners of the Chapala expect the government to clarify the situation. "We are willing to negotiate with the government if they want to buy it you sell it, and if we receive the return they want to continue to produce happy, that's all we do. "

At Hacienda Bolivar Brillembourg family, military presence is constant. The owners have not had access to the farm and the production of high quality meat and milk is confiscated. Before the rains in the unit had more than 12,500 cattle and 7,000 liters of milk produced daily. This fell to 5,000 liters after floods and cattle herd increased to 8,500. Between January and February milk production fell to less than 1,600 liters per day.

10 Disadvantages Of Dbms

In eight years of regulation of food prices have risen 663% devaluation


THE NATIONAL - Saturday February 5, 2011 Citizens / 1

Citizens

MARKETS AND CONSUMPTION In eight years of regulation of food prices have risen 663%
Consumers recognize to emphasize the lack of controls

51.3% of respondents by Datanálisis says there are flaws in the food supply

Katie LUZANGELLY MEDINA HERNANDEZ

khernandez@el-nacional.com
Lmedina@el-nacional.com





product shortages of food stocks has become chronic in the country. In January, supermarket shelves failures reported in the inventory of powdered milk, beef and prime beef, edible oils, coffee, sugar and margarine. Besides the absence of certain foods, consumers suffer from a lack of brands of sanitary napkins, diapers, shampoo, toothpaste, mouthwash, toilet paper and napkins, and other personal care products.

Datanálisis A study of 800 people revealed that 51.3% of respondents said that the food supply situation in places where normally made shopping for your home is negative. Measurement, which takes place from August 2007, reported peak shortages.

In February 2008, 76.6% of respondents said the supply of products was negative in September of that year the percentage dropped to 61.2. In July 2009 stood at 59.5% and in March 2010 at 68.2%.

Note that because of the devaluation, the lack of products that rely on imported inputs, previously paid to the exchange rate of 2.60 Bs and now are bought abroad to 4.30 Bs could grow.

addition, there is a gap between actual production costs and regulated prices. A kilo of beef costs 17.60 bolivars since August 2008.

Farmers argue that the costs are high and that domestic production is not profitable and, instead of adjusting prices, the Government has chosen to import, but devaluation also threatens the supply product brought to Brazil and Argentina.

For wheat pasta, the last increase occurred in May 2009. Agribusiness report in 21 months price freeze losses rising international raw material, labor, production costs, domestic inflation and the effect of two devaluations.

edible oils from corn, and sunflower mixed with 20 months without magnification. In June 2009 the Government decided to lower them, and now there are high production costs from higher raw material, wages and other components.

Price control was adopted on February 6, 2003 and published in Official Gazette on 11 that month. In 8 years of implementation, inflation has slowed. The national index of consumer prices recorded a acceleration of 376% between February 2003 and December 2010, and food and nonalcoholic beverages rose 663%. In this period also rose 544% wage and price increases in the areas covered do not outweigh the high costs of production.

favor and against. The perception of consumers, in general, is that price control has failed to bring down the market. Jose Hernandez, Bicentennial Abastos consumer, argues that the regulations cause shortages. "The price of food is regulated, but it is difficult to get the products. There is no flour, no oil, or mayonnaise. Many informal traders take advantage of the absence of these products selling at twice the price. "
For Marta Medina
price control is a utopia.

" No one meets the requirements, many personal care products and household cleaning up every 3 months like some food. Should regulate all products, not just the basics. What good is an annual salary increase each month if everything goes? ". Nicole Rojas, Central Madeirense consumer, not the same opinion. He believes that price control is a perverse measure: employers do not invest and lose production regulated food products become more expensive as excluded. "I prefer to release prices for the existence of a greater variety and competition," said Rojas, who criticized that while employers are penalized for violating the regulation, the hawkers are exempted from the law.

Hugo Gomez, Bicentennial Abasto consumer, said he agreed with the price control because otherwise the money will not reach him. "It should cover all products as diapers, which are becoming increasingly expensive." Francisco Piquer

For price controls creates nervousness among consumers and aggravates the shortage of products. "It does not help reduce inflation, there is no domestic production, everything is imported and scarce. This week I did not get mayo and the other problem is that given the shortage some people buy excessive quantities of products to prevent and worsens the situation. "