MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Venezuelan farmers concerned with Mercosur

Cattle-ranchers and farmers in Venezuela claim they are being left in the dark as President Hugo Chávez accelerates his drive to make the country a full member of Mercosur, next December.

Venezuela's entry into the block formed between Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay apparently has the full support of the four members, but details of the operation particularly regarding agriculture remain unclear with growing concern among Venezuelan farmers.

"Entry into Mercosur could be extremely dangerous for us" said Genaro Méndez, president of Fedenaga, the cattle-ranchers federation adding that "we're going to have problems not only in ranching, but also in agriculture."

The cost of producing meat, milk and cereals in tropical Venezuela is higher than in temperate Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil and in some items as much as double. And even when imports of cheap food products from Mercosur could benefit consumers, it could spell serious trouble for Venezuela's agricultural sector, which is already facing problems from land invasions.

"It's a big interrogation mark" said Carlos Machado Allison, agriculture professor at the Iesa business school in Caracas. "There has been no information at all about the terms under which negotiations with Mercosur are taking place. Normally, business groups would be consulted".

Venezuela is an associate member of Mercosur, as are Bolivia, Chile and Peru.

One of President Chavez "Bolivarian revolution" objectives is to make Venezuela self sufficient in food production, cutting overseas dependency, but this seems to contradict his drive for a quick incorporation to farm efficient Mercosur.

Critics of Mr Chávez in Venezuela insist the president is more motivated by politics than economics and argue that Mercosur is a clear example of this attitude.