Brasília, 12/19/2002 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - A government program to modernize farm machinery and implements (Programa de Modernização da Frota de Tratores Agrícolas e Implementos Associados e Colheitadeiras) (Moderfrota), which is run by the Ministry of Agriculture, has spent R$5.49 billion (US$1.56 billion) since 2000, when it began operating. It is reported that over 26% of all harvesters and over 18% of all tractors in the country have been modernized as part of the program.

Between 2000 and this November, Brazil produced a total of 128,647 farm machines. Out of that total,105,753 were sold domestically, the rest were exported. (AB)