Brasília, July 2, 2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The Brazilian Agricultural Research Company (Embrapa) and the Ministry of Education (MEC) will exchange information to improve higher education in the area of Agricultural Sciences, providing more scholarships through the Coordinating Office for Personnel Improvement in Higher Education (Capes).

This morning, the Ministers of Education, Cristovam Buarque, and Agriculture, Livestock, and Supply, Roberto Rodrigues, signed a protocol to effectuate this integration. And they scheduled a ministerial meeting for Monday, July 7, to discuss expanding the number of agrotechnical schools. According to Buarque, the aim is to make use of Embrapa's experience. "We need to reform these schools and increase their number, and the Ministry of Agriculture wants to help us in this task," the Minister of Education said.

Another goal of this integration, the Minister explained, is to involve Embrapa employees in the process of literacy instruction for the rural population. (DAS)