Brasília, March 24, 2004 (Agência Brasil) - The Ministry of Agrarian Development's national secretary of Family Farming, Walter Bianchini, released data today showing that, between July, 2003, and February, 2004, the National Program to Strengthen Family Farming (Pronaf) transferred US$ 179.5 million (R$ 523 million) to approximately 320 thousand family farmers. According to Bianchini, this figure "is a clear demonstration of the commitment by this government and this Ministry to family farming, one of the most important sectors of the Brazilian agricultural economy."

There were basically two types of loans, one for the purchase of fertilizers and seeds and the other for the acquisition of durable goods, such as tractors and agricultural equipment.

50% of all Brazilian family farmers live in the Northeast. For this reason, the secretary explained, the Ministry defined the region as one of its priorities.

For the country as a whole, US$ 1.02 billion (R$ 3.3 billion) were allocated to the Pronaf, for around 3 million farmers.

Translator: David Silberstein