Resilience and struggle in the defense of agriculture in São Paulo

In 2021, although it recorded a grain production of almost 255 million tons, sustaining the Brazilian trade balance surplus and exports of food, biofuels and commodities, constituting a strong pillar of the national economy in the midst of the pandemic crisis, Agriculture experienced a year of great difficulty. The State of São Paulo, which represents around 20% of the sector in the country, was one of the main centers of resistance to the activity.

In a scenario still marked by Covid-19 and its impacts, rural producers faced a severe water crisis, increased electricity tariffs, frost, intense cold and fires caused by drought. Faced with so many obstacles, which caused losses of up to 100% on some farms, their resilience, courage and effectiveness in continuing to work and provide, without interruption, the different value chains dependent on field production is remarkable. This situation also required firm, tireless and dedicated mobilization of the Federation of Agriculture and Livestock of the State of São Paulo (Faesp), on multiple fronts of sectoral defense.

One of the victories in this fight refers to the Federal Government's compliance with our entity's request to extend until December 31st the deadline for vaccinating São Paulo's cattle and buffalo herds against foot-and-mouth disease, giving more breathing space and peace of mind to producers, in the face of the difficulty of purchasing immunization agents. Still in the livestock production chain, we celebrate another measure for which we fought hard: approval, in the Legislative Assembly of the State of São Paulo, of the law that reduces bureaucracy for the production of artisanal cheeses, for which we also asked for exemption from ICMS.

The Federation also took a very firm stance in the face of international attacks on Brazilian agriculture, starting with the Chinese embargo on meat imports, due to two isolated atypical cases of mad cow, which affected old animals not intended for production and which, as attested the World Organization for Animal Health, do not pose any risk. Therefore, we ask our government to intensify diplomatic efforts to reverse the measure.

We repudiate the strong pressure in the United States, marked by the project of a senator and the lobby of the National Cattlemen Beef Association (NCBA), to stop imports of Brazilian meat, as well as the absurd proposal of the European Union to restrict the import of our agricultural products , alleging alleged environmental problems in our country. Now, we have some of the most advanced environmental legislation in the world and exemplary rural producers in terms of sustainability and protection of forest reserves and water sources. We have demonstrated that, in addition to being unjustifiable, these attacks can be harmful to the detractor countries and their people, who cannot forget something crucial: Brazil occupies first place in the ranking of beef and poultry exporters and fourth place in sales. global pork markets.

On another relevant front in defense of agriculture, considering that the resources from this year's Harvest Plan, although substantive, do not fully meet the demand for rural credit, the impacts of frost, fires and the hydroenergy crisis and higher interest rates, we forwarded a series of demands and suggestions to the government and the banking market, regarding greater access for producers to easier lines of financing. From financial institutions and cooperatives, we ask for the extension of contracts signed by São Paulo producers that are close to expiry and/or extension of deadlines and installments for payment and delivery of products.

To the Federal Government, we recommend a credit line for the recovery of damaged coffee plantations, made available with Funcafé resources, and the creation of another, with a repayment period and easier conditions, to enable the recovery of the productive structure and maintenance of agricultural activities affected by the bad weather. To the São Paulo Executive, we reiterate the need to supplement the subsidy to the rural insurance premium. The target number is R＄100 million, practically double what we obtained in 2020.

Also from the São Paulo government, we requested two contingency measures: extension of installments of current financing with resources from the Agribusiness Expansion Fund, with the transfer of installments due one year after the last installment provided for in the contract; and creation of an emergency credit line, with funds from the same body, to recover the productive structure and maintain agricultural activities affected by the frosts.

We are working to increase rural producers' adherence to the Electronic Invoice and the use of ICMS credits. We also demand improvements in the way credits are used and operational improvements in the E-credRural system, which will certainly be an important achievement for our sector.

The year that came to an end was really difficult, but, on the other hand, it confirmed the capacity of resistance, resilience, work and struggle of rural areas. They are courageous women and men, who never weaken in the face of adversity and obstacles. Therefore, the permanent action and mobilization of a class entity dedicated to the representation and defense of these brave people and agribusiness is always very gratifying.