News

Inside the entrance to the Ministry of Agriculture compound, a brand new tractor is displayed.

This is a Veniran tractor.

It was created with Iranian know-how in a Venezuelan factory - a potent symbol of co-operation between a Muslim theocracy and a socialist republic.

Alberto farms rice and livestock. "My very first tractor was a Veniran model," he says.

"I bought it at a discount with a cheap government loan. Things have really changed around here because of the agreements with the Iranians."

"Before I was just a hired hand, I couldn't even aspire to being a farmer. Now I have all the machinery I need, thanks to the government of President Chavez."