Venezuela agricultural and livestock development initiatives

The Venezuelan government has initiated efforts to stabilize its agricultural sector and expand international trade through improved livestock management.

Initially, the government convened the second Agro-productive Monitoring Council to address food security and the impacts of the ‘El Niño’ phenomenon. During these discussions, officials highlighted the need for adaptive practices to mitigate climate crisis effects and introduced the first phase of the National Bovine Herd Characterization Plan to support future international certification.

Following these discussions, the implementation of the National Livestock Characterization Plan has progressed, notably in the Lara region. This phase involves using digital statistical surveys to inventory over 380,000 head of cattle and various other livestock across thousands of properties. The overarching objective is to secure certification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) as a country free of foot-and-mouth disease. Such certification is viewed as a prerequisite for opening Venezuelan meat markets to Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean. To complement these state efforts, the National Federation of Cattle Ranchers (Fedenaga) has proposed a Master Plan centered on education, credit, and vaccination to strengthen the national herd.