Venezuelan farmers denounce agricultural smuggling

Agricultural producers in Mérida, Venezuela, are reporting that massive smuggling of agricultural goods, primarily from Colombia, is undermining the national economy. This illegal influx creates unfair competition that displaces local production in domestic markets.

Carly Paredes, president of the Integración Nacional de Agroproductores de Venezuela, stated that essential crops such as corn, fruits, and vegetables are the most affected. The crisis is compounded by a lack of access to credit and financing from both public and private banks, leaving local producers unable to compete with irregular imports.

Producers have appealed to government entities for assistance, noting that the lack of clear policies and financial incentives is dismantling the operational capacity of formal productive sectors in the country's interior.