Brasília, March 31, 2004 (Agência Brasil) - The federal government will disimburse an additional US$ 584 million (R$ 1.7 billion) this year for the Ministry of Agrarian Development to meet its target of settling 115 thousand families on the land by the end of this year. The announcement was made by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who met with members of his Cabinet in the Planalto Palace to discuss the implementation of the agrarian reform budget.

According to the Minister of Agrarian Development, Miguel Rossetto, President Lula guaranteed that the resources to execute the National Plan of Agrarian Reform will be maintained intact. The Ministry had already been allocated US$ 481 million (R$ 1.4 billion) in this year's budget, but it was postulating US$ 584 million (R$ 1.7 billion) in supplementary funds to meet the settlement target. The supplementary funds will come from federal government windfall receipts.

Rossetto rebutted criticisms that the agrarian reform process is at a standstill in the country. He said that the government's National Plan of Agrarian Reform is being fully implemented and will fulfill all the settlement targets determined for 2004. "In no way is this government negligent or paralyzed. A great effort is being generated," he emphasized.

"The government will furnish supplementary funds and assure the budgetary and financial rhythm to implement all our goals," Rossetto pointed out. The resources, he said, will be transferred over the course of the year.

Translator: David Silberstein