Venezuelan Milk Producers Concerned by Inaction

VENEZUELA - Milk producers in Venezuela are concerned about the lack of promised government support for their industry and imported dairy products crowding their output out of processing plants.
calendar icon 24 June 2009
clock icon 2 minute read

Additionally, the government has inspected a Parmalat milk processing facility in Barinas state, says a USDA Foreign Agricultural Service GAINS report.

According to producer and association representatives, even though the saturation of the dairy market by excessive milk imports is making it difficult for producers to sell their products, farmers are still interested in increasing milk production. They have not forgotten President Chavez’ promises to encourage domestic milk production.

The president of the Cattle Ranchers Association from the High Mountains of Merida (AGZAM by its Spanish acronym) said that they will meet with the directors of the State owned dairy company, Enlandes, and with the managers of the National Milk Production Fund (Fonaprole) to discuss the parameters and guidelines to develop a programme to increase milk output.

In March 2008, within the framework of the nationalization of the company Lácteos Los Andes, President Chavez announced the creation of Fonaprole. The Fund offers, among other benefits, a 50 per cent feed subsidy for 600,000 cows during a period of three years, distribution of grass seeds, implementation of agricultural technology, and the extension of credit.

But over a year has past, according to industry representatives, and still results of this initiative which was allocated USD 300 million have not been seen.

“The contradiction is that there is a programme of cattle development and large quantities of imported meat and milk continue entering the country. Between 8,000 and 9,000 cows have been imported from Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil since 2005, not counting those from Nicaragua and Cuba,” according to the Association. Agzam estimates that 60,000 liters of milk are lost per week due to a lack of market.

The president of the cattle ranchers of Machiques reported that the Socialist Dairy Processing Company of Machiques has over 200 tonnes of dry milk powder in their warehouse that has not yet been allocated to the market. But the lack of market is not the only problem that producers face.

The National Cattle Federation says that the State dairy companies are asking to producers to be members of official bodies. Producers that belong to a cattle association that is affiliated to the government bring their raw milk to State plants without problems.

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