Guatemala: FTA, neolib affect food supply
Guatemala: FTA, Neolib Affect Food Supply
Guatemala, Oct 16 2007 (Prensa Latina) — Neoliberal policies and the free trade agreement with the US have made Guatemala rely on others to feed its population, a study published here denounces.
On occasion of the World Food Day, proclaimed by the UN in 1999, the Land, Tortilla and Work campaign published a document referring to the presence of the scourge of hunger in broad sectors of the Guatemalan society.
In early 1980, this nation used to be considered the Central American granary because of its high production of staple food, allowing the country to meet internal demand and even sell excess to neighbors, researcher Susana Gauster said.
According to Gauster, who is coordinator of the Institute of Agricultural, Rural Studies, dismantling of public institutions which supported small farmers with technology and credit caused a severe impact on the country’s food sovereignty, as neoliberal policies were applied, reducing the State capacity to control prices and markets, leaving them in the hands of the private sector.
The signing of the free trade agreement over a year ago put an end to the last defenses of local farmers, who were left at the mercy of the competition of US farmers, who are subsidized by their government, she added.
