"Vertical gardens were pioneered during World War II," a teacher said as he instructed them on how to turn plastic bottles into planters that could be hung on a wall or balcony. "We need to take advantage of every space possible."

This is Venezuela's latest weapon in its battle against hunger: urban agriculture.

As the country has been swamped with images of empty shelves, soul-crushing lines and food riots, the administration is urging city-dwellers to embrace modern-day Victory Gardens.

Urban Ag

In January, President Nicolás Maduro created the Ministry of Urban Agriculture, saying it was critical to "fight the grave economic situation" being produced by "falling oil prices and the war being waged by the U.S. Empire against our national economy." More recently, the administration has said metropolitan areas should grow at least 20 percent of their own food.

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