Implementing national food policies to promote local family agriculture: Belo Horizonte's story

Abstract

Policies in Brazil promoting family agriculture such as the Food Acquisition Programme (PAA) and the 30% minimum procurement law for the National School Meals Programme have had varying success across the country. To understand why these policies work effectively only in some areas, the implementation processes must be clarified. This exploratory, ethnographic study identifies the causal mechanisms involved in implementing PAA and the 30% law in the city of Belo Horizonte. The findings reveal that although beneficial, large supply volumes and transportation costs are challenges faced by farmers in the implementation process.

Les politiques mises en œuvre au Brésil qui promeuvent l'agriculture familiale, comme le Programme d'acquisition d'aliments (PAA) et la loi qui prévoit 30 % d'achats locaux pour le Programme national de repas scolaires, ont remporté un succès variable dans l'ensemble du pays. Pour comprendre pourquoi ces politiques ne fonctionnent efficacement que dans certaines zones, les processus de mise en œuvre doivent être éclaircis. Cette étude ethnographique exploratoire identifie les mécanismes causaux qui interviennent lors de la mise en œuvre du PAA et de la loi de 30 % d'achats locaux dans la ville de Belo Horizonte. Les conclusions révèlent, que bien qu'ils entraînent des avantages, les volumes importants de vivres et les coûts de transport constituent des difficultés auxquelles se heurtent les agriculteurs dans le cadre du processus de mise en œuvre.

En Brasil, las políticas que promueven la agricultura familiar, como el Programa de Adquisición de Alimentos (PAA) y la ley del 30% mínimo de adquisiciones, ambas vinculadas al Programa Nacional de Alimentos Escolares, han tenido resultados mixtos. Para comprender las razones por las cuales dichas políticas han funcionado con eficacia solo en algunas regiones, deben aclararse sus procesos de implementación. El presente estudio etnográfico y exploratorio identifica los mecanismos causales relacionados con la implementación del PAA y de la ley del 30% en la ciudad de Belo Horizonte. Los hallazgos obtenidos indican que, a pesar de que estas leyes han demostrado ser útiles, cuando se ha llevado a cabo su proceso de implementación los agricultores han tenido que enfrentar retos vinculados con el abastecimiento de volúmenes elevados y los consiguientes costos de transporte que ello implica.

Keywords:

• Environment (built and natural) – Agriculture
• Food security
• Governance and public policy
• Labour and livelihoods – Poverty reduction
• Latin America and the Caribbean

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Zoraya Souza and the staff at SMASAN in Belo Horizonte, Brazil for sharing their insights and arranging the site visits in Belo Horizonte. This research would not be possible without their cooperation. The authors would also like to express their gratitude to Jessica Wegener, Assistant Professor in the School of Nutrition at Ryerson University, for her review and feedback.

Notes on contributors

Melody Mendonça is a graduate from the Master of Health Science in Nutrition Communication programme at Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada. This research was conducted as part of her Major Research Project.

Cecilia Rocha holds a PhD in Economics. She is Director and Associate Professor in the School of Nutrition Department at Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada. She is also the past Director (2005–10) of the Centre for Studies in Food Security at Ryerson.

Notes

1 Cafeteria-style restaurants subsidised by local and state governments which aim to provide affordable and nutritious food to the public and particularly segments of the population who are food insecure.

2 At the time of this study US$1 was equal to 2 reais.

3 Retailers provided with municipal licences to sell on provision that they offer at least 20 products at a regulated price. At the time of site visit, produce was being sold at reais 0.92/kg.

4 A regional variety of unrefined whole cane sugar. Also known as panela or jaggery in other parts of the world.

5 12 million reais is approximately equivalent to US$6 million.

6 100,000 reais is approximately equivalent to US$50,000.

7 Appendix A includes a sample copy of the call for public bids to provide an idea of the quantity of food required to supply the school meals programme.

8 CEASA – Centrais de Abastecimento de Minas Gerais – are centres where farmers trade commodities through retail and wholesale transactions. The prices are based on supply and demand.

9 EMATER – Enterprise for Technical Assistance and Rural Extension.

10 Minimum wage was 1,046 reais per month as per the official municipal newspaper Belo Horizonte, published on May 23, 2013.