Agriculture may help Brazil eradicate poverty, says FAO

Data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) indicate that Brazil has enough potential to reach the poverty eradication target by 2030. In 2013, the country left FAO's Hunger Map, which reveals that less than 5% of the population is living under extreme poverty.

According to Gustavo Chianca, assistant of FAO's representative for Brazil, agriculture may help the country meet the target despite the economic crisis. “Brazil has great potential to increase its production, employment and also improve its economic activities,” Chianca said.

According to Chianca, the reduction in Brazil's hunger has held steady since the 90's, and grew considerably more dramatic in the 2000's all the way to 2014. In his view, a number of factors have contributed to that effect, “like the food in schools, which is very important to children and adolescents, because it comes as a complement for what they eat at home. The policy for a higher minimum wage is also key, on a yearly basis, apart from cash transfer programs, like the Bolsa Família.”

He pointed out that Brazil “is currently one of the countries with the effective conditions to significantly raise its agricultural production, thus increasing its production capacity, feed the world, and also export and bring resources to the country.” FAO's target is to eradicate hunger in the world by 2015, and Chianca believes Brazil has proved it is capable “of meeting that goal even earlier.”

According to the UN, despite the progress, some 800 million people suffer from hunger all across the world.

*With additional information from TV Brasil.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira

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