Data collected by the National Supply Company (Conab) shows that Brazil will be able to meet the population's basic consumption needs. With a grain harvest estimated at 251.9 million tons, according to the latest survey released by the state-owned company, the main crops consumed in the country (soy, corn, wheat, rice and beans) account for around 97% of the harvest and exceed more than 100 million tons the volume of domestic consumption of these grains last year.
Faced with the situation of combating the new coronavirus, the Federal Government called on Conab to work with the ministries of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (Mapa), Economy, Citizenship and others, in addition to the Civil House, to meet possible food demands all over the country.
In addition to agricultural production, Conab also collects marketing information from the main Supply Centers (Ceasas) to assist in planning actions that guarantee the maintenance of the supply of fruits and vegetables throughout the national territory. The work involves monitoring the flow of purchases, prices and products offered.
Social Supply – Among the measures adopted to maintain assistance to people in situations of food and nutritional insecurity, carried out by Conab, is the extension of the Food Acquisition Program (PAA) projects that expired in December and have a balance until those who will expire in June. With this, the benefiting family farmers will have more time to deliver around R$ 5.8 million worth of food to 167 organizations across the country, benefiting more than 700 small producers and thousands of people in situations of food and nutritional insecurity who will receive these products. The other approved projects remain in operation, with the deliveries foreseen in the proposals.
The Company is also studying the possibility of expanding its operations through the Food Distribution Action (ADA). Regular deliveries of basic food baskets are currently made to specific population groups, such as traditional indigenous and quilombola peoples and communities. Another support tool is the Counter Sales Program (ProVB), in which small animal breeders and micro agribusinesses have access to public corn stocks for use in feed. For this purpose, Conab plans to provide services in new areas, if necessary to maintain the production of animal protein and guarantee supply to the population.
Stocks – In relation to stocks, the large Brazilian grain reserve is guaranteed by the private storage network and internal and external logistics. “Anyone who looks at the volume of public stocks is seeing a very small part of what the country produces and what the government does in terms of actions to guarantee the minimum price for agricultural policy instruments and supply logistics through social programs”, explains the president of Conab, Guilherme Bastos.
According to Bastos, Conab has 59 structures within its storage network used as a basis for assembling and distributing baskets. For a more extensive program, a partnership scheme could be set up.
Source: Notícias Agrícolas
