CARACAS, Venezuela — President Hugo Chavez joined with his leftist allies on Wednesday to create a $100 million program to fight the rising cost of food for Latin America’s poor.
Chavez and leaders from Cuba, Bolivia and Nicaragua also promised joint programs for agricultural development in addition to the new Food Security Fund, though they provided no details on how the programs and fund would work.
Venezuela has struggled with sporadic shortages that often make it difficult to find staples such as milk, sugar and beef. Chavez has blamed local businesses, saying they hoard products. But critics blame government-imposed price controls, which they say make it difficult for some businesses to turn a profit. Venezuela continues to import most of the food it consumes.
