Brasília, July 11, 2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Today, the Minister of Agrarian Development, Miguel Rossetto, received the South African Vice-Minister of Agriculture, Gilingwe Mayende, who came to Brazil to familiarize himself with models of agricultural settlements and the agrarian reform policies of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's Administration.

During the meeting, the Ministers discussed the two countries' histories of land occupation and exchanged information on successful efforts to strengthen family farming. Minister Rossetto spoke about the importance of intensifying relations between Brazil and South Africa. He suggested that a Document of Technical and Political Cooperation be prepared for ratification during President Lula's visit to South Africa, on August 8.

"We are preparing objective programs for the transfer of experiences in the area of technical assistance and the study of land occupation issues. We are very excited about the relationship we are building, which will be very strong, vigorous, and positive," Rossetto said.

The South African Minister arrived in Brazil last Sunday and spent the week visiting land reform settlements in the Federal District and Goiás. Mayende was impressed with the organization of Brazilian rural laborers, and he said that much of what he was able to observe in these communities will serve as a model for his country. "In the first place, this desire on the part of social movements to work, this interaction, this search for points in common. And we think that, if conditions in South Africa allow us to do the same, our agrarian reform will also be a success."

The South African agrarian reform program envisions that, by 2015, over 30% of the land will be returned to the black population. Up to 1994, around 88% of land was held by large estate-owners. (DAS)