Spensy Pimentel
Special Envoy

Porto Alegre – Today (10), the last day of the 2nd International Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development, Brazil signs several international cooperation agreements in the areas of agriculture and food, with African and Latin American countries.

According to the Ministry of Agrarian Development, today the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP) sign the "Regional Qualifying Program on Property Regime and Land Management and Associated Legal Aspects."

Mozambique, Angola, Sao Tome and Principe, Guinea Bissau, Cape Verde, Portugal, and Brazil will participate in the agreement with FAO. The Organization intends to develop works related to land registration, property demarcation, conflict management and juridical aspects involved. Program resources will come from FAO, and its operations headquarters may be established in Cape Verde.

Brazilian Ministry of Development and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fishing of the Republic of Benin also sign today a memorandum of understanding, which establishes cooperation in the rural development area, including training of researchers and producers, and transferring of technology. The agreement is the result of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s trip to Benin in February.

The governments of Brazil and Paraguay, and the company Itaipu Binational also sign today a protocol of intentions to establish a partnership for rural development in the border region between both countries.

Translation: Andréa Alves