President Maduro: The Landless Movement of Brazil is the Landed Movement in Venezuela

Caracas, September 10, 2024.- The Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America-People’s Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP) is ready to join efforts to promote the Great Productive Project of more than 10,000 hectares at ‘La Vergareña’ ranch, in Bolívar state, Venezuela, in collaboration with the experience of Brazil’s Landless Workers’ Movement (MST in Spanish).

During his program ‘Con Maduro +’, the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro Moros, encouraged the integration of the successful experience of Brazil’s Landless Workers’ Movement (MST) with the project and concept of conuco (small-scale traditional farming). The goal is to develop the first 10,000 hectares and, in the medium term, 100,000 hectares of productive land to grow food for the people of Venezuela and those in need across Latin America.

The President stated, “In Venezuela, the Landless Workers’ Movement of Brazil is now called the Landed Movement. It’s a difference—here they have land and support.”

Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America, Jorge Arreaza, stated: “From ALBA, President, we join this Patria Grande project alongside the peasants of our continent, who will be proud to be part of this beautiful experience that begins in the state named after the Liberator Simón Bolívar, with his alliance, the alliance of Simón Bolívar.”

Arreaza mentioned that he accompanied members of Brazil’s Landless Workers’ Movement on a tour of the ranch and explained that the land was once owned by the Rockefeller family.

“We are here, President, with comrades from the Landless Workers’ Movement in Brazil, and here (in Venezuela) with land. They will report on this visit (…) Wonderful lands managed by Agrofanb, which is doing a wonderful job,” Arreaza stated.

He also said that the Landless Workers’ Movement, along with the leaders of the Brazilian government at the time, “which is different from today’s government,” always dreamed that on Venezuelan and Brazilian soil “we could produce food for our people, food for the Global South, and food for those who need it most.”

Simone Magalhães, a leader of Brazil’s Landless Workers’ Movement, praised President Nicolás Maduro’s policies aimed at boosting production in Venezuela and promoting the well-being of the entire region.