Leaving the “bubble” of Caracas reveals a grim reality in inland Venezuela, marked by fuel shortages, electricity rationing, crumbling hospitals, and impassable roads. These issues have been exacerbated by years of crisis, leaving many regions neglected and struggling.
With the presidential election approaching, promises are being made. President Nicolás Maduro, who seeks re-election, has pledged to repair schools and clinics and to build houses. This is in response to the urgent needs expressed by residents in various towns. Meanwhile, the opposition talks of change and efficiency.
Maduro has ominously hinted at a “bloodbath” and a “fratricidal civil war” if he does not win the upcoming elections. Such statements are unsettling for those who maintain authoritarian views.
Professional and critical journalism is a cornerstone of democracy, which makes it unsettling for those who mistakenly believe they own the truth.
Biscucuy, a coffee-producing town in Portuguesa state, exemplifies the wider decay seen across the country. José Gregorio MejÃa, a 56-year-old mechanic, describes the economic struggles facing the community. Clad in grease-stained clothes, he asserts, “The economy here is tough. It’s a sacrifice for everything; we’ve never seen a situation like this.”
MejÃa requires surgery for a urinary obstruction, but the local hospital, with its rusty exterior, lacks the necessary materials for the procedure. Concealing a urine bag under his shirt, he continues working daily to earn between $2 and $4, a sum far too small to cover his surgery elsewhere.
Rosa de Madrid, a 62-year-old teacher, laments the decline of wages under the current government. She relies on financial help from her daughter in the U.S. to get by, stating, “We used to say, ‘Let’s work hard to enjoy a happy retirement,’ but now we can’t make that claim.”
In Biscucuy, power outages lasting up to four hours have become commonplace, as they have in many other small towns. The roads leading to coffee farms are riddled with potholes, and become nearly impassable when it rains.
Maduro often attributes the crisis to sanctions imposed by the United States in 2019, after questioning his re-election a year prior. However, both residents and experts agree that these issues predate the sanctions, indicating that the government has focused more on “protecting” Caracas, where power cuts are infrequent and there are fewer shortages, despite ongoing poverty.
Biscucuy produces between 60% and 70% of Venezuela’s coffee, yet productivity is increasingly hampered. The Hernández family is unable to find diesel for their coffee-drying machine or gasoline to transport the coffee to town. There is also a shortage of fertilizer, and coffee growers are unhappy with the prices the government offers for their crops.
The only coffee roaster in the area has been expropriated, leaving many farmers reliant on intermediaries. Migdalis Hernández, 53, who runs the family farm, expresses frustration, saying, “We’re drowning because we lack resources. Diesel prices are sky-high, and we need 200 liters to dry just 10 sacks of coffee.”
To produce 80 quintales (3,680 kg) annually, she must invest around $800 in diesel. Many coffee producers are forced to use part of their harvest to barter for basic goods due to soaring inflation and currency devaluation that have destroyed the local currency and led to informal dollarization.
Rafael Hernández, a local resident, uses his crop to buy staples like cornmeal, pasta, sugar, and vegetable oil, but struggles to afford meat or chicken. “Our coffee farmers have poor diets,” he notes.
The mayor of Biscucuy, Jobito Villegas, estimates that between 5,000 and 10,000 producers have left the municipality due to the crisis. “The young people have left, and we’re left with the old. Our workforce is disappearing,” he laments. Previously, agricultural workers migrated from Biscucuy to Caracas; now, they’re heading to the United States, a common destination for many Venezuelan migrants.
Despite the challenges, Migdalis Hernández remains committed to her farm, viewing it as an inheritance from her parents and a crucial part of their identity. “It’s what we have. How can we set it aside? We must keep it alive.”
Source: https://www.perfil.com/noticias/internacional/trueque-poco-combustible-y-servicios-en-ruinas-la-vida-venezuela-adentro.phtml
