Venezuela Orders Farmers And Food producers To Hand Over Their Products To The State

A consumer carries products at the state-run supermarket "Bicentenario" in Caracas June 4, 2013. REUTERS

The Telegraph: Venezuelan farmers ordered to hand over produce to state

As Venezuela's food shortages worsen, the president of the country's Food Industry Chamber has said that authorities ordered producers of milk, pasta, oil, rice, sugar and flour to supply their products to the state stores.

Venezuela's embattled government has taken the drastic step of forcing food producers to sell their produce to the state, in a bid to counter the ever-worsening shortages.

Farmers and manufacturers who produce milk, pasta, oil, rice, sugar and flour have been told to supply between 30 per cent and 100 per cent of their products to the state stores. Shortages, rationing and queues outside supermarkets have become a way of life for Venezuelans, as their isolated country battles against rigid currency controls and a shortage of US dollars – making it difficult for Venezuelans to find imported goods.

Update #1: Venezuela orders producers to divert food to state stores -- AP
Update #2: Amid Food Shortages, Venezuela Orders Companies To Distribute Products To State Stores -- IBTimes

WNU Editor: This is not going to end well. My prediction .... these food producers are just going to shut down.