Venezuela: While Venezuelans can’t buy fries
Earlier this year, it was reported that McDonald’s in Venezuela could neither import potatoes to make fries nor find a reliable supply domestically. The reason has recently come to light and it appears that it is not just because of currency controls
Venezuela’s National Seed Service (Senasem) has been asleep at the switch, and let 175,000 metric tons of potato seeds go rotten in state silos. When locals discovered the magnitude of waste on July 8 — in excess of all potatoes produced in 2014 —
they took to social media and could hardly contain their outrage, describing it as the “official self-imposed economic war.”A delegation from the National Federation of Potato and Vegetable Producers of Venezuela made the discovery in the state of Mérida, 700 kilometers southeast of Caracas.
Producers then assembled at the Ministry of Agriculture to present formal accusations and demand an explanation from the authorities.In Venezuela, silos are the responsibility of Senasem. This state agency’s function is “to carry out all activities necessary for there to be a continuous, sufficient, and timely supply of seeds in the different areas needed by the country, so that production caters to the demand of the domestic market.”
However, in the first half of 2015 alone, the domestic price per kilo of potatoes has suffered an increase of over 1,507 percent. It began at 28 Bs., and now, due to the lack of production, has risen to between 350 and 450 Bs.The price is one matter, but the Venezuelan population’s outrage is directed towards 175,000 tons lost at the hands of the government. Given almost 30 million people in Venezuela, the damage amounts to at least six kilograms of potato seed per person.
Fuente: http://www.freshplaza.com/article/143080/While-Venezuelans-cant-buy-fries
