Using Expropriated Land for Food Sovereignty
A commune-under-construction, Paula Correa, in Aragua, is based on 360 hectares of land recovered by the Venezuelan government and handed over to the people to run, in 2007. Using environmentally friendly techniques, the land is used to grow vegetables, which then go to the communities and to the government run distribution chains.The land was previously owned by large land holders (the Salazar family), who paid workers little, if anything at all, and who only grew sugar on it, a product that doesn't take advantage of the land available.
The government approached communal councils in the area, suggested they ran the land, and gave them training. The “social production unit” now uses a range of technology, and a combination of open air farming as well as “sheltered” or “protected” farms.