Chavez commission to examine land reform in Venezuela
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez plans to form a special commission to examine what Venezuela could do with its farmlands amid a major land reform effort, the agriculture minister said yesterday.
Chavez is expected to announce measures on Monday to ”reorganise the use of agricultural land” in the country, Agriculture and Lands Minister Arnoldo Marquez said.
He said the presidential commission’s duties will include studying the best uses of agricultural lands and defining actions the government will take in the cases of idle lands.
Few other details were immediately available, and Chavez did not mention the land issue when he spoke at a ceremony marking the opening of the legislative session.
Under the Land Law enacted by Chavez in 2001, the government can seize land if it deems property is not being used productively for agriculture, or if it was obtained illegally.
