Venezuelan neighbors to get millions in food aid

By Marc Frank

HAVANA (Reuters) - Venezuelan Agriculture Minister Elias Jaua said on Tuesday his oil-rich country would give $2 million grants to 18 Caribbean and Central American countries to buy fertilizer for the coming growing season.

The grants are part of a Venezuelan-led program to form a multinational company among the so-called PetroCaribe group of nations to produce and distribute food.

Jaua made his announcement at a Havana meeting to map out plans for the food venture, which Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has said would "create a shield against hunger" in the face of rising food prices.

The grants were a protective step to help the countries until the company is operating, Jaua said.

"We have decided to assign an initial $2 million to each member country for the joint purchase of fertilizer for the most urgent needs of the coming planting season," Jaua said.

PetroCaribe is a Chavez project aimed at promoting his vision for area integration as an alternative to U.S. proposals.

Through PetroCaribe, Venezuela already provides preferentially financed oil, with some of the money saved on oil going for development projects in the recipient countries.

Chavez, a strident U.S. foe and close ally of Cuba, has pledged to put aside 50 cents of every dollar Venezuela earns when oil cost more than $100 a barrel for the food project.