Growing potatoes and carrots high in the wind-swept mountains of western Venezuela had always proven a challenge for Luis Villamizar. But as oil production in the South American country has collapsed under years of mismanagement and U.S. sanctions, many in the industry are confronting another hardship: Fuel shortages. “Nobody’s going to eat this. It’s a loss for sure,” said Villamizar, 53, as he dug up potatoes darkened with spots from a damaging infestation. “Who’s going to buy these? This won’t do.”
He’s not alone. Across Venezuela, crops are spoiling in the fields — at a time of unprecedented hunger — as farmers become the latest casualty of the nation’s deepening crisis. Without a dependable supply of gasoline, critical shipments of pesticides have been entirely cut off, basic equipment has become impossible to operate, field workers cannot be bussed in and crops aren’t arriving at markets — further jeopardizing an already shaky sector in a country that has seen a whopping 10% of the population emigrate.
Oil output has reached record lows, with state-run company PDVSA estimated to be producing at 10 to 15% of its capacity. Gasoline is dirt cheap at filling stations, but hard to find — driving the black market price for a 5.3 gallon (20 liters) container up to $100 in remote mountain communities. Many motorists have also grown accustomed to waiting days to fill up their cars or doing without any at all.
Critics blame the downfall on corruption after two decades of socialist rule, while embattled President Nicolás Maduro blames U.S. sanctions that were implemented against PDVSA this year to pressure him from office and put opposition leader Juan Guaidó in charge.