Rural Development and

Family Farming

We are facing crucial challenges at the beginning of the XXI Century

• Environment / climate change

• New sources of power beyond fossil fuels

• Food and Nutritional Security

They are directly linked to rural areas

The rural areas will be more and more the center stage of these challenges

Because Rural Development is at the CROSSROAD of any National Development agenda willing to face these challenges

And Family Farming will be a the center of the National Development Agenda since it is the majority segments on our countryside

PRESENT CHALLENGES

Family Farming in Brazil

Legal Framework (Act 11.326/2006):

– Recognition and segment characterization

– Small and medium farms, agrarian reform's settlements and traditional rural communities (extractivists, riverine populations among others)

– Allows the development of specific public (focalization) policies to the segment

Define criteria to access public policies:

– Administration of the establishment

– Labour force predominantly from the family

– Income predominantly from the establishments

– Limit of area accordingly to the sub-regions realities

4,37 million agricultural establishments:

• 84,4% of all rural establishments

• 24,3% of all rural area

• 74,4% of all agricultural workforce

• 32% of Brazil’s Agribusiness GDP or 10% of Total GDP

• 70% of foodstuff in the Brazilian basic food basket

FAMILY FARMING IN BRAZIL

Censo 2006 - Agricultura Familiar (Ley 11.326 – 2006)

Censo 2006 - Agricultura Familiar (Ley 11.326 – 2006)

These figures show that family farmers and other rural dwellers are not condemned to poverty or mere receivers of social assistance

Instead, they can turn themselves into relevant economic actors and national development agents if stimulated by specific public policies

• Contribute to macroeconomic stability: food price stability, inflation control,

balance of payments (less food imports)

• Promotes social stability: workforce occupation in rural areas, stagnation

of exodus to urban areas; national integration

This is our strategy in Brazil

Our Strategy:

Getting the State back on the development agenda

Shaping public policies suited to family farming

Organizing production

Creating and regulating agricultural markets

Agricultural Credit

Technical Assistance and Rural Extension

Climate and Price Insurance

Public purchasing from Family Farmers

Land reforms

Territorial Development

PUBLIC POLICIES FOR FAMILY FARMING

Next challenges

Incentives to technologies

Incentives to sustainability

Poverty erradication

The results of our strategy

1) Family Farming is an essential actor for rural development

From 2003-2009 (IBGE/PNAD):

37% poverty reduction among family farmers

Family Farming as a group scored major poverty reduction in

rural areas

Family Farming middle class grew 29%

Family Farming average income real growth: 33%

Income from labour activities contributed by 60% to this

growth

Pensions contributed 29% and cash transfers programmes

15%

The results of our strategy

2) Family Farming is contributing to national economic

development overall

Food Inflation under control

Food security guaranteed

Industrial growth and job creation

Interruption of rural exodus

Embajada de Brasil en México

Calle Lope de Armendáriz No.

130

Col. Lomas Virreyes

Delegación Miguel Hidalgo

México, DF - 11.000

Tel.: (+5255) 5201-4531

Fax:(+5255) 5520-6480

mexico.itamaraty.gov.br

brasemb.mexico@itamaraty.gov.br

Sector Comercial, de Energía y

Turismo

Tel: (+5255) 52017287

(+5255) 5201-4531 Ext. 287

secom.mexico@itamaraty.gov.br

Brazil Global Net

www.brasilglobalnet.gov.br