Venezuelan Food Shortage

  • The Beginning of the Food Shortage

    Food production has continuously dropped since the 1990s. The Bolivarian government began importing food using the country's oil profits.
  • CADIVI (CENCOEX)

    In 2003, CADIVI (CENCOEX) was established. It is a currency control board. These currency control are said to be the cause of the shortages.
  • Great Leap Forward

    In 2005, shortages increased and 5% of items were unavailable. Therefore, Chavez decided to announce the Venezuelan "great leap forward."
  • Great Leap Forward

    In 2005, shortages increased and 5% of items were unavailable. Therefore, Chavez decided to announce the Venezuelan "great leap forward."
  • Scarcity of Goods

    In January 2008, 24.7% of goods were not available. The scarcity of goods remained high until May 2008. 16.3 per cent of goods were not available.
  • Shortages Increase Again

    In January 2012, shortages reach the same rate as they were in 2008.
  • Record High

    In February 2014, food shortages reached a record high of 28%.
  • #AnaquelesVaciosEnVenezuela

    In January 2015, people began using the hashtag #AnaquelesVaciosEnVenezuela (EmptyShelvesInVenezuela) on Twitter. It was a trending topic for two days where people from Venezuela posted pictures of the empty shelves.
  • Oil Revenues Drop

    In June 2015, the Venezuelan government could no longer import goods due to a drastic drop in oil revenues. By the end of 2015, the food shortage in Venezuela had reached 75%.
  • Famine

    In May 2016, people feared that Venezuela was entering a period of famine. Therefore, President Maduro encouraged citizens to produce their own food. A month later, a national food crisis was declared. Citizens began fleeing to Colombia for food.
  • Labeling Garbage

    In 2017, priests encourage Venezuelans to label their garbage cans for individuals desperately in need.
  • Plan Rabbit

    The Maduro government blamed the U.S. for the shortages and established "Plan Rabbit". This is where Venezuelans were told to breed rabbits and slaughter them for their meat.