MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Brazil invests 7.6 billion USD in family farming

The plan is basically to promote food production

The Brazilian government confirmed Wednesday that the fund to promote home farming and gardening will have at its disposal 7.6 billion US dollars. This represents a 525% increase since the administration of President Lula da Silva took office in 2003.

Daniel Maia and Adoniram Peraci from the Family Agriculture Development Secretary said that the 7.6 billion is to be invested in the plan covering the 2009/10 harvest.

Half the sum is to be invested directly in farming projects while the rest is for management, teaching and equipment.

“This represents 525% more resources than those at the beginning of this administration back in 2003, when President Lula da Silva took office”, said Maia.

The funds had been anticipated as a project from the Agriculture Ministry for the 2009/10 farm year to promote family farming and increase food production in Brazil, mainly beans, corn, rice, wheat, tapioca, among others.

Other benefits for small farmers registered in the Program to Strengthen Family Farming include access to insurance policy compensations against climate problems.

Brazil is a leading world exporter of agriculture commodities but a percentage of its population of 190 million is undernourished.