Brasília, 1/7/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Minister of Food Security and Hunger Combat, José Graziano, will officially kick off the Zero Hunger Program at the beginning of February in the city of Guaribas, Piaui. The program will encompass a total of 41 action plans nationwide.

The program will provide needy people with a magnetic card that will enable them to withdraw funds to purchase food.

The goal is to extend the program to a total of 19 municipals by the end of this June, and make it operational in at least one municipal in each of the states in the Northeastern region of the country by the end of the year. "We are hopeful that this will work out," declared Graziano. (AB)