The Amazon Fund will allocate R$80 million to strengthen food production for indigenous peoples, traditional communities and family farmers in the Legal Amazon, through a notice released this Tuesday (3). The initiative is part of the Forests and Communities: Amazônia Viva project and is the result of a partnership between the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES), which manages the fund’s resources, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MMA), the Ministry of Agrarian Development and Family Agriculture (MDA) and the National Supply Company (Conab).
The non-refundable resources will be invested in at least 32 proposals, with values between R$500 thousand and R$2.5 million for each project, to be executed in the states of Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, Mato Grosso, Pará, Rondônia, Roraima, Tocantins and part of Maranhão.
The notice is aimed at networks and individual organizations, such as cooperatives and family farming associations, indigenous peoples, quilombola and traditional communities, extractivists, artisanal fishermen, as well as civil society organizations with proven performance in the region. Priority will be given to projects with a greater number of beneficiaries, female leadership, participation of young people and action in socio-biodiversity chains.
One of the main objectives of the notice is to strengthen entities so that they can provide food for the Food Acquisition Program (PAA), for the National School Feeding Program (PNAE), in addition to access to operations of the Sociobiodiversity and Extractivism Valorization Program (SocioBio Mais).
“Normally, the poorest in the countryside produce and deliver for others to commercialize and industrialize, that is, to make the best part. And, With this resource, those who can access it will be able, in addition to formalization, to add new equipment”, highlighted the president of Conab, Edegar Pretto.
According to Conab, the resources can be used to promote production, such as the acquisition of machinery and equipment, works and constructions, among other investment items, which contribute to improving productive conditions. Technical assistance and rural extension and scientific and technological research for innovation and sustainability may also be funded, as long as they do not exceed 50% of the transfer value.
“The notice seeks to generate employment and income and also links you with the food and nutritional security agenda”, observed the Socio-Environmental Director of BNDES, Tereza Campello.
For the national secretary of Food and Nutrition Security of the Ministry of Development and Social Assistance (MDS), Lilian Rahal, the notice initiative promotes an important integration of environmental policies, food security and productive inclusion.
“Through this notice, at the same time as the structuring of organizations and the promotion of production are encouraged, we are promoting food production and the recognition of socio-biodiversity”, he explained.
