Venezuelan Food Production Grows 44 Percent http://www.insidecostarica.com/dailynews/2011/april/13/latinamerica11041301.htm

Food production has grown 44 percent in Venezuela since President Hugo Chavez assumed power in 1999, Minister of Agriculture and Land Juan Carlos Loyo said on Tuesday.At the end of the presentation of the 7th National Agricultural Census, Loyo said that the country currently produces 24.6 million tons of food against 17.1 million registered 11 years ago.He attributed the increase to agricultural programs implemented by the government, including granting plots of land to farmers, as well as recovery and legalization of underused land.According to Loyo, states with greater food production are Barinas, Guarico, Lara and Zulia.Main crops include cereals, fruits, vegetables, roots, tubers, leguminous plants, textiles and oleaginous plants