March 22, 2013

As it makes US$4.1 billion in credit available to producers, the Harvest Plan for Fisheries and Aquaculture predicts that by the end of 2014 Brazil will be producing two million tonnes of fish per year.

To stimulate production, while favouring family farmers and fishermen, the Federal Government decided in the Harvest Plan to increase, from five to 20 tonnes, the volume of fish under the Food Acquisition Programme (PAA).

The fish purchased through the programme will be allocated to school feeding, to popular restaurants, food banks, community kitchens and even the food baskets distributed to the Federal Government.

Fish can also be purchased by the organisations themselves to be sold in the market. To participate in the programme, the producer must be framed in the National Programme for Strengthening Family Agriculture (Pronaf), facing family farmers, agrarian reform settlers, indigenous and other traditional peoples and communities or rural family enterprises.

Each family has the right to sell between US$4500 to US$8000 per year in the Federal Government, in various forms. As part of the programme, people can participate in the PAA individually or through their cooperatives or other organisations.

To participate as an individual, beneficiaries vendors must obtain a Statement of Fitness for Pronaf (DAP) in previously authorised institutions, as officials Technical Assistance and Rural Extension or Federations and Confederations Farmers, through their unions. In the case of artisanal fishers and aquaculturists family DAP can be provided by the MPA.