Rio, January 15, 2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The Mixed Agricultural Cooperative of Rondon-Copagril, which currently has 3,500 members, the majority of them micro and small rural producers, will receive the support of the National Economic and Social Investment Bank (BNDES) to the tune of R$ 20 million for the construction of a chicken packing plant in Marechal Cândido Rondon, Parana. Around 600 direct jobs will be created in the region.

45% of the new unit's initial production, estimated at 35 thousand tons of chicken per year, should be exported.

According to the BNDES, per capital chicken consumption in Brazil increased from 24 to 32 kilos per year between 1998 and 2002. The tendency is for the increase to continue. (DAS)