Venezuelans are struggling to find food to feed their families. The crisis is the result of communism, which creates glaring shortages of all kinds.
President Nicolás Maduro recounted how he and his wife grew pumpkins on their patio for a soup that tasted “like heaven.”
“He who learns to cultivate in his city, his school, his university, his factory, in his communal space… cultivates another form of faith in life,” said Mr. Maduro, when he promoted the “Great Agro-Venezuelan Mission” especially for city gardens. “We need to plant to ensure food sovereignty,” he added.
Growing food in the city is not easy. But city farmers acknowledge that time spent in their gardens means less time in grocery lines on the street. But it can also improve their diets, at least a little bit.
But as is often the case, the program to “grow your own” in the city, is stifled by a lack of both government support and arable land, while the government ignores the root of its economic woes.
Social media posts pictures of life in Caracas as food supplies dwindle and black market prices soar. A dog and a man sift through trash, which is a common sight in Caracas.
The government had promised to plant 4,600 square miles of land in the first 100 days and grow 3,500 metric tons of fruits, vegetables, and herbs this year. They suggested that citizens can produce 20 kilos (nearly 45 lbs) of fruits and vegetables on just one meter of land.
But that didn’t happen, 135,000 Venezuelans only produced 273 metric tons in urban settings, according to the governments own report.
Water and electricity shortages have compounded the problems, as food shortages and inflation continue.
It’s the result of many factors, all of which can be directly traced to communism and socialism, including “decreasing purchasing power as the cost of food goes up more quickly than wages, years of policies to keep food prices low for consumers, reducing incentives for private production, etc.”
“But political choices have exacerbated the situation, observers say. The government has prioritized paying off foreign debt at the expense of paying pharmaceutical companies or other industries for vital imports, or investing in the domestic production of food, which faltered over the past decade-plus of price controls and expropriations.”
Plus the Maduro administration refuses to acknowledge that Venezuela is in food crisis, which means little to no international or multilateral aid has been able to trickle in to address the situation. In addition, the falling price of oil has exacerbated the problem for the nation.
Riots and looting, a black-grocery market, and concerns about malnutrition, especially among children are endemic. Crime has skyrocketed. And the tension has already started to mount and could erupt in protests and violence.
“When a country has its population eating out of the garbage, then they are ready to hear other options.” said economist Angel Garcia Banch.
This scenario is a harbinger of what is to come as we near the end of time. This is a man-made shortage because of political decisions. But there are other forms of shortages including weather related, military activity, etc.
“For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.” Matthew 24:7.
City living is a problem during a food shortage. Country living in the right places gives your family arable land, water and other benefits. Country living is the best way to steer yourself clear of the food shortages coming to your city or town when the time of trouble arises.
“I see the necessity of the people of God moving out of the cities into retired country [places,] where they may cultivate the land and raise their own produce. Thus they may bring their children up with simple, healthful habits. I see the necessity of making haste to get all things ready for the crisis.” Country Living, page 21.
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