Venezuela’s Grassroots Rally Behind 100-Day Urban Agriculture Plan
As part of the economic measures to confront the economic war and the deep economic crisis, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has created the Urban Agriculture Ministry in a step that garnered strong support from various agricultural collectives who for years have used urban spaces for the production of different foodstuffs. Venezuelanalysis visited one of the projects included in the 100-day urban agriculture plan that was kicked off on February 28.
The plan began with the sowing of 1,200 hectares with 13 different crops, including chard, chives, eggplant, zucchini, cucumber, tomato, onion, sweet pepper, beats, bell pepper, carrots, and lettuce. At the close of 100 days, the plan is to have expanded cultivation to 12,000 hectares in order to meet 20% of the consumer demand in the eight participating cities. It is estimated that it will be possible to produce 30,000 tons of food with the help of various organized communities such as the communes, communal councils, eco-socialist brigades of the Tree Mission, as well as student communities in elementary and high schools. The National Bolivarian Armed Forces and the Militia will also participate.
In the Great Venezuelan Housing Mission residential complex of Las Fuentes in south-central Caracas, close to 45 residents have been growing crops on the roofs of their apartment blocks. The residential complex consists of 9 buildings accommodating 157 families. Now their cultivation project has been included in the 100-day urban agriculture plan. Check out our photos of this self-managed project which aims to expand its productive capacity.
