Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Sunday warned farms and milk plants' owners that if they refuse to sell their milk for domestic consumption, the government would take over their farms.
Chavez made the warning on his weekly broadcast program "Hello President."
He said, with the country recently facing milk shortages, "it's treason" if farmers deny milk to Venezuelans while selling it across the border in Colombia or for gourmet cheeses.
Chavez also announced a hike in milk prices, a measure intended to counter recent shortages.
The president added, "in that case the farm must be expropriated," and the government could also take over milk plants and properties of beef producers.
"I'm putting you on alert," Chavez said. "If there's a producer that refuses to sell the product ... and sells it at a higher price abroad ... ministers, find me the proof so it can be expropriated."
The oil-producing country imports most of its food. But Chavez pledged to help Venezuela boost its agricultural output in the coming years.
Source: Xinhua
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