Abstract

RODRIGUEZ ROJAS, José Enrique. Contra-reforma, inestabilidad macroeconómica y autonomía del sistema agroalimentario venezolano durante el periodo 1989-2006. Agroalim [online]. 2009, vol.15, n.29, pp.39-53. ISSN 1316-0354.

The aim of this paper is to analyze the main effects of counter-reform process and the prevailing economic instability on the caloric foreign dependency of the Venezuelan Agro-Food System case, during the 1989-2006 period. It is supported on a systemic approach, which emphasize the relation of the agro-food system with the economic setting. Time series data were constructed based on indicators, in order to measure the performance of food foreign dependency. Main results show that a policy oriented to anchor the exchange rate, implemented as part of counter-reform process, has prevailed during the period analyzed, stimulating an exchange rate appreciation which supported a tendency to deteriorate the Venezuelan Agro-Food System’s autonomy, related to previous years. In this context, caloric foreign dependency made evident a decreasing tendency, compared with its performance at the beginning of 1990’s decade, stimulated by improvements in the competitiveness of maize’ food chains. The imported component remains over 40% of consumption and makes evident a close and positive relation with the intake caloric performance. 

Keywords : macroeconomic policies; macroeconomic adjustment; caloric foreign dependency; food security; food supply autonomy; Venezuelan Agro-food System.