Greater support for medium-sized producers contributes to cheaper food, says Fávaro.

247 - The Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Carlos Fávaro, highlighted this Thursday (3) that the 2025/2026 Harvest Plan arrives with an unprecedented volume of R$ 516,2 billion destined for agribusiness. The statement was made during participation in the Bom Dia, Ministro program, broadcast by Canal Gov, from Empresa Brasil de Comunicação (EBC). The amount represents an increase of R$ 8 billion compared to the previous edition and 42% more than in the last year of the previous administration.

According to the minister, the plan's objective is to promote agricultural production as a tool for controlling inflation. One of the highlights is the expansion of the income limit for the National Program to Support Medium-Sized Rural Producers (Pronamp), which increased from R$ 3 million to R$ 3,5 million annually. This change expands access to credit for medium-sized producers with differentiated conditions, which, according to Fávaro, could result in cheaper food on supermarket shelves.

"When we increase the potential for Pronamp, which benefits medium-sized producers, those who produce food that stays in Brazil, creating opportunities for cheaper food to reach people's tables, the real beneficiaries will be the Brazilian population," the minister explained.

Record harvests and exports - Carlos Fávaro recalled that the 2025 harvest already reaped the benefits of the previous plan, with a record harvest and a drop in the price of foods such as rice, beans, potatoes, tomatoes, onions, and meats. The surplus, he stated, also made possible a record volume of exports.

"To stimulate the economy, to stimulate agriculture, to grow, to produce food, to combat inflation, to have surpluses for export. That is the Harvest Plan that we have created with great pride," he said.

Of the total announced, R$ 415 billion will be allocated to operating costs and marketing – R$ 13 billion more than in the previous cycle. Another R$ 102 billion will be earmarked for investments in productive infrastructure, representing a 51% increase over the previous period. In addition, R$ 114 billion will come with controlled and subsidized interest rates, a 23% increase compared to last year.

Sustainability and promoting good practices - The new edition of the Plano Safra (Agricultural Plan) reinforces the priority of financing sustainable practices, such as low-carbon emission systems. The RenovAgro Program has been expanded to include actions for fire prevention, reforestation, and the recovery of protected areas.

The government also extended until June 2026 the 0,5 percentage point discount on interest rates for financing, valid both for producers enrolled in Pronamp and for those adopting sustainable practices.

“Our proposal is that producers who use bio-inputs, who practice no-till farming, who carry out efficient soil conservation with organic matter, can also, certified in a program established by Embrapa, receive this 0,5% discount,” stated Fávaro.

Expansion into new markets - Fávaro attributed the directive to President Lula for the Ministry of Agriculture to focus on expanding trade relations, in addition to diplomatic ones. According to the minister, since January 2023, Brazil has opened 387 new markets for agricultural products.

"President Lula asked me: 'Take advantage of this opportunity. Travel the world. Wherever I re-establish good friendly relations, you establish good commercial relations,'" the minister reported.

Among the products covered by the openings are fruits, sesame, sorghum and meats. This Saturday (5), the first export of Brazilian beef to Vietnam will take place, the result of an official mission led by President Lula. According to Fávaro, Japan and South Korea are also close to authorizing imports, after technical inspections.

Sanitary defense as an international asset - The minister highlighted the national sanitary system as a competitive advantage, citing the effective response to the only outbreak of avian influenza recorded on a commercial farm in the country, in May, in the municipality of Montenegro (RS). After a 28-day sanitary break, Brazil regained its status as a country free of the disease, according to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WHO), and 16 countries lifted restrictions on Brazilian poultry meat.

“Brazil has the opportunity, in the face of health crises, to demonstrate the robustness of our system. In the United States, 170 million birds have already been slaughtered. In Brazil, 17. With this, we gain market share, quality, and international confidence. This translates into jobs, income, and growth for our economy,” concluded Fávaro.