Brasília, 1/6/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Minister of Agriculture, Roberto Rodrigues, says that his priority is to strengthen Brazilian farm income as part of the effort to achieve the objectives outlined by president Lula in his inaugural address: a bigger trade surplus, expanding the farm frontier, generating income, fighting hunger, land reform and increasing production.

Rodrigues pointed out that Brazil is the only major agricultural nation that does not have a farm insurance program. "Without farm insurance we cannot even talk about farm income," said the minister, adding that international negotiations and stronger cooperatives will also play an important role in the effort to increase farm income and make Brazil more competitive.

Another area Rodrigues said needs attention are productive chains, which need to be linked and integrated. Agriculture cannot function in isolation, said the minister, productive chains have to be organized. (AB)