U.S. rice farmers are reaping the benefits of Hugo Chavez’s policies. During the 14 years he was in power Chavez nationalized large farms, redistributed land, and controlled food priced. But these policies turned Venezuela from a net exporter to a net importer of foods such as rice, coffee and beef. Foods the nation was once self-sufficient in. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in the first half of 2013 U.S. rice exports to Venezuela jumped 62% from a year earlier. Overall Venezuelan imports have quadrupled to $59.3 billion in 2012 from $14.5 billion in 2000. To read further how Chavez’s policies have affected agriculture and farmers in Venezuela:
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