Secretary of Family Agriculture reaffirms support for production chains at the opening of Expoagro Afubra

When participating in the opening of the 19th Expoagro Afubra, in Vale do Rio Pardo (RS), Mapa's Secretary of Family Agriculture, Fernando Schwanke, emphasized Minister Tereza Cristina's willingness to implement actions to strengthen Brazilian agriculture and support small and medium-sized rural properties. Schwanke highlighted that the region has 40% of the population in rural areas, while the country's average is 20%, and assessed that this is due to tobacco cultivation and its production stages.

The event runs until tomorrow, the 28th, and highlights topics of interest to family farmers such as diversification in the field, rural property management and sustainability. With the purpose of strengthening the work of family agribusinesses, the fair brings together technology options for the countryside and seeks to encourage the diversification of rural producers. The activities should attract an audience of around 100 thousand people, in addition to the more than 400 exhibitors present.

“At the Ministry of Agriculture, we want to let the groups involved in the production chains work and produce, we don’t want to get in the way. Today, the tobacco sector exports 89% of its production and we are working to reduce bureaucracy in procedures and really let producers do their own thing”, explained the secretary. “Next year, on the 20th anniversary of Expoagro Afubra, the tendency is for the minister to be present to get to know our region and see the importance of tobacco up close”.

Regarding the fair's central theme “Technologies for the Field: Management”, the president of the Brazilian Tobacco Growers Association (Afubra), Benício Albano Werner, highlighted the role of technical and financial management in the management of rural properties. “In Brazil, managing a property is as challenging as driving a car on a bumpy and winding road,” he compared. “I am sure that everyone would like to be successful in their ventures and businesses and, therefore, this edition is focused on management”.

The opening ceremony was also attended by the vice-governor of Rio Grande do Sul, delegate Ranolfo Vieira Júnior; the mayor of Rio Pardo, Rafael Reis Barros; the president of the Parliamentary Front for Agriculture, federal deputy Alceu Moreira; the president of the Parliamentary Front for Family Agriculture, federal deputy Heitor Schuch; and leaders linked to the agricultural sector.

New pavilion

One of the new features of this edition is the Family Agroindústria Pavilion, with 1.500m² of built area and 149 stands. The structure was inaugurated with resources from the Ministry of Agriculture, the municipality of Rio Pardo and a parliamentary amendment by deputy Heitor Schuch.

There, the work developed by family rural properties is exhibited and sold, where visitors can find sweets, salami, cakes, cookies, handicrafts, plants and other products from 80 municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul.

“The new space is here to guarantee agribusinesses a quality space to sell their products. It works as a showcase to boost the sector's sales, bringing markets and consumers closer to the producer, promoting the sale of these foods, strengthening and recognizing family farming”, highlights Schwanke.

On March 1st, the Secretary of Family Agriculture and Cooperatives spoke about “Small properties, large productions” during the launch event of the 19th Expoagro Afubra. On the occasion, he highlighted the importance of small and medium-sized farmers for Brazil's economy. Data presented indicates that family farming represents 25% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).