Minas Gerais invests more than R$5 million in the Harvest Guarantee Program

The Government of Minas Gerais transferred more than R$5,7 million to the 2023/2024 Harvest Guarantee Fund, an increase of approximately 11,8% in relation to the transfer made in the previous harvest. The resource could help up to 39.730 family farmers from 110 municipalities in the semi-arid region of Minas Gerais, in a vulnerable situation due to climatic difficulties.

The Harvest Guarantee Program is an initiative of the Federal Government, in partnership with the states, city halls and rural producers themselves, in which each of them pays a share into the program fund. 

The annual benefit of R$1,2 is paid to farmers in municipalities that prove losses of 50% or more of their crops due to drought or excessive rain. In Minas, the program is managed by the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (Seapa), with execution by the Technical Assistance and Rural Extension Company of the State of Minas Gerais (Emater–MG).

Food security

The Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply, Thales Fernandes, assesses the importance of contributing resources to family farming. “By paying the State's share, the Government of Minas Gerais guarantees the food security of these farmers at a time of losses in their family subsistence production. The resource guarantees these small producers the minimum conditions for survival and the continuity of the activity they carry out on the rural property”, he states.

The secretary recalls that the increase in resources in the program demonstrates the Government's commitment and sensitivity to the social issue of family farming. “For the third year in a row, Minas is increasing investment in the program and this enables the participation of a greater number of producers who can receive the benefit. In the 2023/2024 harvest, the increase is 11% in relation to the number of producers served in the previous harvest".

Previous harvest

Established in 2002, Garantia-Safra is part of the National Program for Strengthening Family Agriculture (Pronaf). In the 2022/2023 harvest, 35.675 thousand farmers from Minas Gerais, from 106 municipalities, were covered, with a single installment of R$1,2. The state contribution was R$5,1 million.

Family farmers who have the Family Farming Registry (CAF) or an active Pronaf Aptitude Declaration (DAP) can participate in the program, with a monthly family income of, at most, 1,5 minimum wages and who plant between 0,6 and 5 hectares of beans, corn, rice, cotton or cassava.