Brasília, March 5, 2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The National Confederation of Agriculture (CNA) foresees that in the 2004-05 period the agricultural sector will grow all over the world. According to Getúlio Pernambuco, head of the Economic Department (Decon), the bright prospects for the world economy -- which, in his view, will grow 3% this year -- should increase the demand for agricultural products and favor Brazil.

Technical personnel from the CNA participated in the 8th Agricultural Outlook Forum, sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and held last month in Washington. Together with specialists from various parts of the globe, they debated the directions of agriculture. The forum is a kind of World Economic Forum for Agriculture.

The analysts forecast that agriculture should grow between 4.5% and 5% in the United States during this period. According to their predictions, China will remain in the leadership, growing at a rate superior to 9%. Brazil will show a 4.5% increase. (DAS)