2025: Investment in Growing Rice Could Double Venezuela’s Harvest

Rice is a highly important food in the Venezuelan diet, consumed widely and frequently, often on a daily basis. It is considered a primary source of carbohydrates and a key component of the national cuisine. Rice is an essential ingredient in Pabellon Criollo, the national dish of Venezuela.

However, in recent years, a variety of factors have led to reduced rice production:[1]

·       “Historically, rice represented a key component of Venezuela’s agricultural output, with production reaching 1.15 million tons in 2014.However, this progress was undermined by the onset of economic stagnation in 2013. By 2016, as hyperinflation accelerated and institutional support weakened, rice production had fallen sharply to 500,000 tons. Furthermore, this unfavorable scenario caused a shortage of inputs for agricultural production, which, combined with the lack of government support, the lack of public investment in productive infrastructure, and limited bank credit, led to a technological ‘lag’ and a reduction in rice cultivation areas. On average, over the last ten years, rice production has been in sharp decline and around 45% of the country’s rice needs have had to be met by imports, leaving the country hostage to fluctuations and sanctions in the international market.”

 

Recently, a team of researchers published the results of a Study conducted between 2018 and 2024: Assessing management factors limiting rice production in Venezuela. [1] The research determined that:[1]

 

·       “Farmers in Venezuela currently achieve only 47% and 41% of potential yield in wet-seeded and dry-seeded rice, respectively. [Under] wet-seeding, high-yield fields stood out for advancing the sowing date, applying greater rates of nitrogen and potassium oxide, using more herbicides in pre-sowing and fewer herbicides in postemergence, in addition to using a greater number of pesticide applications (fungicides, insecticides). Farmers who adopted no-tillage achieved, on average, 22.6% higher yields.”

 

The researchers described the need for investment in agricultural research and farmer training:[1]

 

·       “The intensification of the system assumes substantial investments in agricultural research and development programs, including the technical training of agronomists and extension consultants, the organization of field days to disseminate best practices to farmers, and the strategic orientation of scientific research toward the key biophysical and management factors that cause the yield gap.”  

 

·       ” The results demonstrate that by intensifying rice-based systems and investing in research, rural credit, and infrastructure, Venezuela could achieve self-sufficiency and double domestic rice production by 2040. By 2040, production could reach 1.8 million tons, generating a surplus of nearly 600 thousand tons available for export.” [1]

1.      de Souza, J.V.S, et al, Assessing Management Factors Limiting Rice Production in Venezuela, Agronomy for Sustainable Development, December 2025

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