São Luís, June 18, 2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The Land Credit Program, which combats rural poverty in Maranhão, the poorest state in Brazil, received R$ 1.8 million from the Ministry of Agrarian Development, to use for productive investments and on behalf of rural communities in the state. The resources are being made available to the states in accordance with the demand.

Of the R$ 11 million provided to Northeastern states by the federal government, the biggest slice went to Maranhão. The state government currently uses land credit to assist families that buy their land and plant, for example, manioc and rice, raise chickens, or build sheds to produce manioc root flour. Maranhão's Land Credit program is coordinated by the Special Programs Nucleus of the Department of Agriculture, Livestock, and Rural Development. According to program coordinator, Ivana Colvora de Souza, over 200 families in the state are being benefitted by land credit. (DAS)